Mr. Manoj Madhavan Kutty is working as the Director of Administration & International Relations at SRM University, Sonepat. He has been working with the institution since 2017. He has also previously been working in Domestic Student Recruitment, Marketing Strategies & Planning. Mr. Kutty completed his Bachelors in Technology (IT) from Anna University. He pursued a double master's degree, a Master's in International Strategic Management from the University of Bradford, U.K., and an MSc in International Business Management from Kozminski University, Poland. He has worked in an IT company, been an entrepreneur, and served in an automotive company before exploring the education vertical. 

SRM University Sonepat

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

“I wanted to explore this sector as there is huge scope in it”

You will be surprised to know that this is my first job in the education domain, though I have held key positions in different organizations throughout the world and cherished that, this has been an equally fascinating journey till now to work in the education domain, as the scope is humungous and so are the learning and growth opportunities for me as an individual and for the entire fraternity. 

How would you describe your leadership style? 

“I believe in leading by example”

I would not like to be philosophical here. I would describe my leadership style as direct, and leading by example, and as a role model to my subordinates. I enjoy delegating tasks and taking the lead and ownership at the same time, but I also like to stay involved and inspire my team by showing that I'm working hands-on to help them, too. 

How do you strategize for the marketing and administration of your school? 

“Our alumni’s success do the marketing for our college”

The strategy itself is an evolving circle that will likely be revised several times during the response based on the changing situation, as I’m talking about pandemic here as an illustrative example. We are sorry to say we don't need to market ourselves. Our alumni do it for us by being successful. Rankings do it for us by putting us at the top. The free publicity we get from these channels is far more effective than any marketing we do for ourselves. Hence, success brings more success. 

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What can an inbound student gain from studying here at your university? 

“It depends on the individual student approach towards learning”

The Indian higher education system has been significantly transformed in recent years, positioning the nation as an influential global player. India’s higher education sector has boomed in the last 15 years. India has surpassed the US, holding the title of the world’s second-largest higher education system after China. I believe inbound students get learning by immersing themselves in another culture and vice versa, you develop valuable life skills needed for personal growth, including independence and adaptability. These skills can give you an added boost of confidence in your personal and professional life. So personally speaking in my experience. 

How does the curriculum of SRM University ensure the best practice of industry? 

“We receive best practices from other institutions of immense importance”

It is a two-way approach you will find at SRM, it is not just that the curriculum has been designed and the work is done, but we constantly thrive improving the program structure by collaborating with industry. We have specialized programs in collaboration with IBM, KPMG, etc. Hence we have very specialized programs at our campus Our International collaboration enables students to access additional, often specific, expertise, gain new perspectives on research, and build relationships with others in the field, which for early-stage researchers can be key to career development. We adopt the ones which are important to the Indian context as learning and development are concerned. 

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

“SRM is a place that embraces all”

So to speak we are already doing it, but it is a mammoth task as we receive a lot of organic admissions even from countries and geographies we couldn't even imagine, but certainly, it is a delight and challenge to learn the culture and understand the student requirements as “ATITHI DEVO BHAVA” is our ethos and motto. Diversity doesn't just have to refer to different races but poised to embrace that variety, various cultures, different beliefs system and attitudes, and so much more from women to minorities, from those who identify as gay or lesbian to those who are disabled, the differences are what makes it so unique and interesting.

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What do you think your roles and responsibilities to the University and the students are? 

“By helping students by solving their problems”

The International Office is the starting point for all non-domestic university students. It offers support to all new and continuing overseas students. The International Office also promotes the university’s interests abroad, often in collaboration with foreign universities and businesses. There are various roles within the International Office. Job duties depend on the position, so you could be dealing with exchange students, supporting current students, or developing the international brand of the university. Below are some general duties involved in IO jobs: 

  1. Handle inquiries from students, visitors, and parents from outside India 
  2. Deal with inquiries from university staff regarding international students 
  3. Process and evaluate applications from potential students and exchange students 
  4. Organise orientation days for new international students 
  5. Facilitate the arrival of new students (information and advice before arrival) 

What is your vision for the university? 

“My vision is to create a transformative educational experience for students”

The higher education landscape continues to evolve due to advancements in technology, increased competition, variations in student demographics, and changing student and employer demands. Faced with these shifts, as an administrator, it is always challenging to understand how we best apply efforts to cope with these changes.