Dr. Mahalakshmi Sankar has been working as an Assistant Professor at Albertian Institute of Management, Kochi, Kerala. 

Albertian Institute of Management

What are the key factors that keep you connected with the education sector?

"The impact my knowledge and experience has in my students life have kept me associated"

Before joining AIM, I was the Department Head of Management Studies for more than 20 years in a reputed college in Mumbai and while working there for so long, I was able to enhance the capabilities of average and below average students to a great extent by using the approach of experiential learning. And the fact which has kept me associated with the education sector is my passion to educate youths and I believe the work I do being a faculty has a deep and good impact on my students life, which itself is a satisfactory and joyful feeling. 

What is your philosophy of leadership?

"A true leader is one who knows how to fulfill his team while utilizing their skills to achieve shared goals"

True leadership for me is to use a combination of participative and directive methodologies to lead others. And understanding students' profiles thoroughly and positioning an institute and its offerings to match their aspirations is the right style to prepare them for the future and outside competitive world. I also follow the same approach in my college being an Assistant Professor. 

How is your college more welcoming to students of different races or economic backgrounds?

"We promote the ambiance of equality in our college and design customized training for them"

Today’s learners come with different requirements including the mode of engagement that they look forward to. Therefore, we first try to identify the aspirations of our students and then provide them relevant opportunities and job related guidance and support in the form of customized training, irrespective of their background or economic status. And to bridge the gaps between industry needs and students' skill sets, we offer value based courses and training sessions to them. 

What are some plans that you are currently designing for students of your college?

"We are developing new teaching methodologies to educate our students"

I am currently designing strategies and methodologies to improve entrepreneurship skills of students and transform them into future leaders and industry experts. And we are also working to introduce the latest programs as per industry standards and requirements and NEP standards in our curriculum.

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How do you establish a healthy relationship and environment in your college?

"By giving them equal windows to learn and experiment"

Our college has established an amazing working and learning culture for both faculty members and students to help them grow equally in all areas of life. And everyone is given a uniform opportunity to contribute in college activities and we never fail to appreciate and reward their contribution. This is how we maintain a cordial relationship with everyone in our college.

What do you think should be the college’s top priority over the next 10 years?

"It must be to improve research facilities in college and entrepreneurship skills of students"

In my opinion, we should work towards enhancing the research facilities in our college so that we can provide timely solutions to some real world problems our society is facing currently. And nurturing entrepreneurship skills in students is another area we need to focus on upcoming years. 

How do you bring in a practical and industry oriented approach towards subjects?

"By encouraging students to develop projects on real world issues"

We have established students oriented and innovative teaching learning methodology in our college. For example, our students have training materials for hygiene as well as emotional well-being to welcome students and faculty back to the institute premises post Covid pandemic. Similarly a mock global investors summit was organized under the aegis of our college entrepreneurship cell for students.

How does your college prepare students for placements?

"Our college has a dedicated placement cell and officer to prepare students for placement"

For the purpose of training our students to face the actual interview process and outside the competitive world, we do have a dedicated placement officer who regularly stays in touch with our industry partners and recruiters to bring the best opportunities for students. And events like mock interviews, personality development sessions and aptitude training etc. are regularly organized by our college. 

Which extracurricular activities are organized in college to enhance the skills of students?

"Indoor and outdoor sports activities, technical events and fun activities are conducted by us"

We firmly believe that co-curricular activities are very important for students along with academics to ensure overall growth and development of students. Therefore, a wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities, technical and non-technical events, sports activities and other fun activities are organized by our college on a regular basis. 

What challenges are you facing to uplift the education quality of your college?

"Students have become lazy towards their studies and addicted towards their phones"

The 2 years covid pandemic has induced lethargy amongst the students and have also created addiction of technology and mobile phones, and these two in my opinion are the biggest challenge we need to address on an earliest basis. Hence, to make classroom learning more interactive and fun and also to inculcate interest in students towards their studies, I keep the teaching-learning environment very light and humorous. 

When you joined this college, what was your vision for it and how are you trying to achieve the same?

"Upgrading skills and knowledge of every single student was my objective"

My vision when I joined the college was to improve the skills and abilities of both average and below average students. And to achieve this goal, I have been using a student-led multi- disciplinary approach to enhance skills in the discipline of entrepreneurial ventures and research publications etc.

How does your college enhance the faculty skills and prepare them as per industry standards? 

"They are trained and upskilled via FDPs and technical conferences"

To up-skill the faculty members of our institute, the college regularly organizes Faculty Development Programs and conferences and encourages them to participate in the same. In addition to this, financial assistance is also provided to them by the college for conducting research activities and also we motivate them to publish research papers in reputed journals.

What do you see as your college’s greatest strengths and how it can be enhanced?

"The working culture and learning ambiance we have established for everyone makes us strong"

The calm, aesthetic, participative and inclusive learning environment which we have established for the betterment of our students and to help them grow at each front makes us strong and resilient at the same time. And our college has built systems and processes that will keep enhancing our teaching pedagogies.

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Any valuable advice which you would like to give the students for a prosperous career ahead? 

"Never stop learning and experimenting with your ideas"

I would advise my students to keep learning and upgrading their skills. Also never be afraid to ask questions, take good care of your and your parent’s health by maintaining a proper balance between your personal and professional life.