Interview: Dr. Harivansh Chaturvedi, is Professor & Director at BIMTECH Greater Noida|Collegedunia

Interview by Yash Panchal

Dr. Harivansh Chaturvedi is Professor and Director at BIMTECH, Greater Noida. He has more than 39 years of experience in teaching, research and academic administration. He has been Director at All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), a statutory body under MHRD, Government of India. He has been deeply involved with national bodies like AIMA, NHRDN, AIMS and the Indian Management Conclave (IMC), organized by MBA Universe.com.

Dr. Chaturvedi is a Member of Board of Governors, Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management (IITTM), Gwalior (under the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, Special Invitee Member, Board of Governor, United Nations Global Compact Network India, New Delhi, Member, Advisory Board, Asia Pacific Centre for CSR Sustainability, UNGCNI, New Delhi, Member, Board of Governor, Birla Global University, Bhubaneswar, Member, Board of Management, Birla Global University, Bhubaneswar.

Dr. Chaturvedi is the Trustee and the Executive President of the Education Promotion Society for India (EPSI), Academic Council Member, Manav Rachna University, Faridabad and also the Founder President of the Alumni Association of Agra University (AAAU) and Ranganathan Society for Social Welfare and Library Development (RSSWLD), Uttar Pradesh. He has authored and edited five books relating to various challenges before Indian Business and Economy. His latest book titled “Transforming Indian Higher Education” was released on October 8, 2015, at Chandigarh by the Chief Minister of Punjab.

Dr. Chaturvedi’s experience in the education industry

Well, I am fortunate to be having had the pleasure working in the educational sector in the capacity starting with the first step the lecturer, then Reader in the Agra University, subsequently, Director in the regulator, AICTE’s office and presently as a Director of BIMTECH for the last two decades. I also happen to be Alternative President of Educational Promotion Society for India where we get to know the problems of the educational intuitions.

I consider this is one of the finest industries because there is a learning opportunity every day and you get to interact with very young lives into brands.

The leadership style of Dr. Chaturvedi

Allowing colleagues and students to reach their full potential has been my philosophy. We are also the legatees of the Birla family values which place great stress on ethical behavior.

Challenges to deal with, as the Director of BIMTECH

Most of the challenges are external, that is making the regulator aligned the needs of modern professional higher education. We had to knock on the doors of courts but negotiations also worked.

Best practice of industry ensured through BIMTECH’s curriculum

We have a system of formalized consultation with the veterans and subject experts from the industry which we do every year for the entire courses that we offer. We also have the benefit of industrial and educational thought leaders interacting with us on this subject.

The growth of students through placement opportunities available at BIMTECH

We tell the students that when they arrive at the campus they are like commodities but when they leave the campus they should become brands which happen invariably.

We train them to be marathoners rather than sprinters

This message does get absorbed and the students get placed on the basis of merit.

Availability for the students being the Director of the college

I live in the campus right in the midst of students where they stay in hostels which are compulsory. I am fortunate that I have the opportunity to interact with them on a daily basis.

We take care to create an atmosphere of trust and hence communication is very easy.

Views on an ideal school environment

Our ideal environment would be mutual respect, commitment to learning and developing an all-round personality with input on culture as well as sports.

Qualities and skills that a student must possess for any stream

Curiosity tops my list, for student’s success irrespective of their stream, engineering or arts or humanities or commerce, we take steps to promote this as well as good communication skills. This delivers the result.

Goals in mind for the next few years

Having obtained all the maximum necessary certification rating from Indian regulators and assessors, we are now focused on to obtaining international accreditation and we are well on the way to achieve the same.