Dr. Sujata Khandai is the Professor (Marketing department), Dy. Dean (Academics) and Director (Amity College of Commerce & Finance) at Amity University Uttar Pradesh, India. After earning an MBA degree and a Ph.D., she entered the corporate arena with a sales and marketing profile in the consumer durable industry. After a few years in the industry, she moved to academia and worked in various higher educational institutions in India and Nepal before joining Amity University in 2015. Her teaching interests lie in the areas of consumer behaviour, digital marketing, branding and entrepreneurship. She has also been actively involved with consultancy assignments and conducting training programs and workshops. She has published extensively in highly ranked journals and also has presented papers in international conferences in Asia, Europe and the USA. She has also co-authored the book Consumer Behaviour - in the Indian Context.

Amity College of Commerce & Finance

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

“An innate passion to contribute to the society’s young population”

I have always been very passionate about teaching and research. In addition, the opportunity to shape the lives of the next generation is what makes me contribute increasingly to the education sector.

What is your philosophy of leadership? 

“I work at cultivating trust among my colleagues by empowering them”

I believe in a more participative leadership style where I try to lead by example. By setting the pace, I work towards improving goals for myself by regularly acquiring new skills, increasing productivity and knowledge. I also help my team members in developing their skills. This helps me in building strong bonds with each one of them such that they are motivated to deliver their best.

How do you strategize about the key programs of your university?

“By understanding the current needs of industries and planning activities accordingly”

Strategic planning for the institution is done every year. This is done majorly by taking into consideration the socio-economic trends nationally and globally. There is constant monitoring on the implementation of the plan to consider shifts and changes to adjust the plan accordingly.

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

“Incorporating skills and practical knowledge into the curriculum required in the industry”

Alignment of the curriculum with industry needs is imperative. Our curriculum is designed to focus on competency and skills-based education. We are in constant dialogue with stakeholders from the industry to understand their skill and competency requirements. This is further integrated into the curriculum of all the courses that we teach

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

“Instil values and ethics in students and equip them with the necessary skills”

In a nutshell, my responsibility to the university is to aim for excellence in all that I do. The aim is to progressively enhance the reputation of Amity on the global platform.

To the students, it is our responsibility to show them the right path, so that going forward, they become responsible and productive members of society. 

What do you see as Amity's greatest strengths?

“Amity University has always been very visionary and farsighted in its approach”

The greatest strength of Amity is its faculty and staff led by our young and dynamic Chancellor, Dr Atul Chauhan. There is extensive focus on excellence in every aspect of the university's functioning. The other great strength that we possess is our student community. Our students are bright, smart and are groomed to make their mark in any field that they choose to be in. 

What are the biggest challenges for higher education in the current scenario?

“Efforts must be made to enhance the employability skills of students”

The biggest challenge for higher education in India is to impart education to focus on enhancing the employability skills of students. This requires a paradigm shift in curriculum design as well as the adoption of pedagogical methods.

The ecosystem at Amity is already geared towards aggressively enhancing the employability skills of students and making them better citizens of India. 

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Any suggestions you would like to give to the current youth?

“Work hard and choose a career that you are passionate about”

There is a global awakening today because of the pandemic that has ravaged all countries. To the youth and the future global citizens, these are some of the things that I would like them to remember:

  • Don’t let problems shape you. Where you are right now, does not define where you will always be. You are the master of your life, so choose wisely.
  • Always make informed decisions. Collect information from alternative sources before you make up your mind. 
  • Believe in yourself and the world will do the same. 
  • Never stop learning and understand that there is no substitute for hard work.

What are some plans that you’re currently designing for your College?

“Global collaborations with prestigious academic universities around the globe”

At Amity, we have always believed in imparting global exposure to all our students. Going forward, we will be further strengthening our existing partnerships and relations that we have with some of the renowned universities of the world. This will result in students being given increased opportunities on the global platform and access to world-class teaching. Our primary objective is to groom and nurture global citizens who are ready to make their mark and shine in the world.