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Vice Chancellor, Dr. Ashok Saxena Unplugged
In the Making of a World-Class University We are embarking on a road to build a world-class university and it can only happen if every member of the GU family contributes their ideas to achieve a common vision and vigorously pursues them, says Prof. Ashok Saxena in an interview with The G-Post , who has recently taken over as the Vice Chancellor of the Galgotias University. On behalf of the entire team of The G-Post, I welcome you to Galgotias University. Tell us something about yourself? First of all, I am honored to be chosen by the Chancellor, Suneel Galgotia, to lead the Galgotias University as its Vice Chancellor. I am looking forward to working with all the faculty, staff and students toward the vision of creating a world-class university known for its student centeredness and for multidisciplinary education and research programs. I also want to take this opportunity to warmly welcome all the new and returning students and wish them a successful academic year. To your question, I graduated from IIT Kanpur with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1970 at a time when opportunities for engineers in India, unlike today, were quite limited. After having lived in United States for almost 40+ years during which I was able to achieve a lot in research and in higher education, I look forward to serving GU in its formative years. I have a blend of private industry and academic background that includes 9 years at the Westinghouse Research and Development Center following my PhD in Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati, 18 years at Georgia Tech as a faculty member and as department head and the last 9 years as the Dean of Engineering and an endowed chair and Distinguished Professor at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. I hope to use this extensive experience in building a team of world-class faculty and administrative staff to benefit GU students. I do not underestimate the enormity of this task but I cannot imagine a better way to spend the next several years of my professional career. In the days and months ahead, I look forward to getting to know the GU community and build a strategic plan to move ahead.
of the fact that a project of this magnitude can only be executed with considerable help from a team of people that are like-minded and share the goals and are committed to pursue them relentlessly. The higher education scenario in India is buzzing with excitement; there is widely-held belief that it needs changes at the structural level but the good news is that there is sufficient infusion of private and government financial resources to enable the change. Equally important is the well accepted fact that there is abundance of talent available among India’s youth with a desire to succeed in higher education and there is also considerable value placed on higher education by parents. When you combine those factors with the opportunity to lead a brand new university, the motivation to join the GU team is obvious; I consider it the once in life-time opportunity that every academician dreams about! What are your future plans? My plans are to immerse myself in the service of Galgotias University and build the foundation of an institution that will be recognized for excellence in multidisciplinary education and research. In turn, this will serve UP, India and the world by producing future innovators and leaders who will significantly contribute to economic development of their communities. What is the status of technical and management education in the USA?
No system is ever perfect and the US education system is no exception! With that said, I believe that the US higher education system is the best in the world when you consider its size and also the diverse population that it serves so effectively. It has for decades, served not only its own citizens, but to a large extent the world. The quality of innovation that goes on amongst its faculty, students and its graduates is truly remarkable. The system does not permit What has motivated you to join Galgotias University? anyone to rest on their laurels but rather incentivizes them to strive for continuous improvement via defined strategic objectives and Returning to India and giving back to the country that gave me such action plans and it seeks out excellence and openly rewards it. The a great start in life has always been my dream. I was truly blessed system is also flexible enough to allow students and faculty to with having the most supportive and highly educated develop their strengths and passion so that they can be creative and parents who did everything so their children would have access to are able to distinguish themselves in meaningful ways. This the best education the country could provide at the time. Now, I approach allows people to grow professionally while simultaneously have an opportunity to give back to benefit thousands of students. enhancing the prestige of their institutions. The higher education I have, in bits and pieces, attempted to give back in small ways for a system has amazing depth in quality where a student can have a number of years but this commitment is at a very different level and great educational experience in literally a thousand of universities I am really looking forward to the challenge. I am also very cognizant that have carved their own niche in their strengths.