Make an effort to see beyond the visible, says Dr. Sanjeev Bansal, Director and Head, Amity Business School

Dr. Sanjeev Bansal, Dean of Faculty of Management Studies, Director & Head of Amity Business School, has 24 years of experience in academics. He is the author of 6 books and 95 research papers. He talks about his views on education, his future goals on Amity and how he has looked at every challenge as an opportunity in his life.

Ques 1: Kindly tell us about your experience in the education industry and what makes it the best industry to work in?

Ans. “Education which does not mould character is absolutely worthless”: Mahatma Gandhi

Let me pronounce the words- service, and profession for education. Being a teacher, it is a fulfilling feeling to foster learners. It is a profession which allows you to serve mankind. It is noble to guide, teach, nurture and develop those who come in your contact. As a profession, nothing is as satisfying as teaching.

Ques 2: Any of the significant challenges you faced in Amity University?

Ans. I would like to use the word opportunities instead of challenges. Opportunities to develop as an Administrator, a Leader and a Representative of the University. Opportunities like witnessing diversity, managing and realizing the need to change and most importantly, Outcome Driven Processes. They have crafted me to grow and develop as a human being both professionally and personally.

Ques 3: What goals do you have in your mind for Amity University?

Ans. To develop globally talented individuals, respectful human beings and to become the best globally in shortest possible time.

Ques 4: Any suggestions would you like to give to the youth and the aspiring students?

Ans. You must respect education, as it is the only way you will receive it. Not everything you see on the internet is true, so respect books. Try to connect the concepts, so this is wisdom. Make an effort to see beyond the visible. Respect values, Respect Culture.

Ques 5: How do you look at the growth of students through placement opportunities available at Amity University? How do you wish to push the envelope further?

Ans. Employability is an important attribute for the students who graduate from Amity University. The focus is to see them industry ready and make them adaptive to the dynamic environment. Placements have been cent percent and the University proudly houses an Innovation Incubator which helps students develop their Entrepreneurial Abilities. The students are truly motivated to avail these facilities. To answer the second part, the next step is Excellent Alliances. We have a number of MoUs and Collaborations with Corporates.  In addition, we have MBA programs running in collaboration with RICS (U.K) for Real Estate, CII (for Logistics and Supply Chain) and now CIMA (MBA Finance).  We wish to come out more mutually beneficial and rewarding association with Industry to push it further.

Ques 6: How do you tend to establish a relationship with the students?

Ans. Empathizing is the only way to connect with the students. Looking at the issues from their perspective and then doing the right thing.  Handling grievance with a lot of care and to connect with them through various mediums.

Ques 7: Tell us about your path towards attaining the positions of the elite?

Ans. It has been an exciting journey so far, but there is still a long way to go.  I still feel like a teacher first. All these positions are the blessings from the Almighty to serve the students from various ways.

Ques 8: How do you build a positive culture or climate?

Ans. Education should be Value-Based. The foundation should be strengthened by ingraining the culture of being grateful for everything coming to us, respecting the differences and making every second count. At Amity, we believe in the importance of ‘Sanskars’ and good behaviour.  We emphasize more on value addition courses, especially Behaviour Science.

Ques 9: What are your takes on Education being digitalized?

Ans. It has a lot of merits in terms of Information Broadcasting, ease of operation in handling documents, saving the environment by less use of paper, fewer errors in dealing with data and more transparency for all stakeholders. Classroom lectures to the evaluation of results, manual attendance to effective ERP systems.  Digitisation is the key for tomorrow.

Ques 10: What would be your ideal school environment and how would you encourage that kind of culture?

Ans.  India has its roots in the extremely effective Gurukul System. Our education needs to look into our tradition. Also, we need to be adaptive in our approach as the environment is changing at a fast pace. It requires a perfect amalgamation of both and that is what Amity’s motto is: Where Modernity Blends with Tradition.