Interview by Yash Panchal

Vishal

Dr. Vishal Bishnoi is working as a Professor & Head-Management Studies at IMR Ghaziabad. He has got 20+ years of experience in academics and industry with expertise in Operations, SCM, IT and Marketing Management. His professional experience includes 16+ years as Head / Dean in the repudiated University / Institutes. His credentials include Ph.D. (Business Studies), Post-Graduation in Business Management, Master in Economics, and a Master in Computer applications. He also holds Certificate in GIS and Remote Sensing (RRSSC, ISRO, Govt. of India), Internet Marketing Fundamentals, Diploma in Export Management (UP Institute of Marketing & Management), and Honors in System Management (NIIT).

Dr. Bishnoi has published Three books with Lambert Academic Publication, Germany. He has so far guided 500+ MBA projects, 2 M.Phils., and 6 PhDs students of Uttrakhand Technical University (Dehradun), Shobhit University (Meerut), Kalinga University (Raipur), Mewar University (Raj.) in the field of Management. He has also published/presented 30+ papers in International / National Journals, Seminars and Conferences. He has conducted several MDPs and training programs and also organized several conferences.

Dr. Vishal has worked as Examination Center observer, Centre Superintendent, Paper setter, Examiner for Theory & Practical examinations, Editorial Board Member, Member of Board of Studies, Academic Council of reputed University / Institution. He has been awarded Margdarshan Award 2013” for Innovation & Excellence in Mentorship Category by Knowledge Resource Development & Welfare Group, on April 27, 2013, at IIT Delhi, and “Appreciation Award” as Faculty by Indian Industries Association & Meerut Engineers Association on Engineers Day 2009, Meerut. He is the life member of “Indian Society of Remote Sensing”, Centre for Growth and Educational Research (CEGR), and Meerut Management Association. Currently, he is the Vice-President of Dehli-NCR committee of CEGR.

Dr. Bishnoi’s experience in the wonderful education industry

Education is a wonderful industry. There is no end to learning and teaching gives us this opportunity lifelong. As a teacher, we are surrounded by young people, who are full of innovating ideas and energy, that provides the opportunity to create and enhance knowledge throughout the life.

Challenge of working in many dimensions

The major challenge as a teacher of higher education is that we have to work on many dimensions as it requires a teacher to have a broad spectrum of knowledge which can facilitate the students in the understanding of the subject theory and applications. It also includes the creation of an education system that encourages the students to think innovatively, critically and attain the capability to communicate their views to resolve unstructured problems. As a teacher, it also requires constant monitoring and exhibiting the processes of teacher and student relationship and attempt to improve it.

The most significant challenge that I feel is perhaps to make the students learn to achieve their own aims and inculcate the learning required including commitment, work, responsibility, eagerness to take risks and take innovative actions.

I always practice collaborative learning. We never chase the syllabus, we rather practice every concept under the ambit subject using cases, mini projects, presentations, group projects, etc. and the learning using these method remains always in their minds.

The requirement of specialists and vertical specialization in curriculum

Though, currently, I am working with a Govt. University i.e. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University, Lucknow, where the syllabus is updated regularly to bridge the Industry Gap. However, I feel today is the time to go for vertical specialization rather than horizontal (Like Dual Specialization in two different streams). Today, we need specialists, not the generalists. I strongly feel we must go for specializations like Marketing and Retail, Marketing and Agri-Business, and so on and at least six months on-the-job training in the same stream will not only provide the industry with skilled workforce but also will reduce the training cost of the companies.

Goals to establish IMR as the center of excellence

IMR is one of the oldest B-Schools (Estd. 1997) of the region. We work at IMR with a goal to establish IMR as a center of excellence that can create performance oriented, technically sound professionals who are creative, disciplined, compassionate, socially responsible and globally accepted.

Dr. Bishnoi on what drove him towards research

The job of a teacher is not merely to impart knowledge but also to create knowledge. The best way to create knowledge is to probe into new concepts and test them. This is the research only that sets a guiding framework for future practices in the industry.

Building a positive school culture

At IMR, we not only impart an MBA degree to the students but we have created a system that inculcates a complete set of professional characteristics. Besides the University curriculum, we regularly organize workshops, seminars, brainstorming sessions on contemporary social, economic, political issues. We also conduct a value-added course in different specializations to make them the most sought-after employees in the Industry. We strive to develop flexible learning-teaching processes to adapt to the ever-changing corporate scenario.

To build a positive learning environment, we need to take initiatives that are very diversified in nature as well as function. Some of these initiatives are to be taken by the teacher, though others are to be taken at the departmental and institutional level. Some of these quality initiatives intend to better pedagogical methods whereas others set the conducive environment for student learning.

Establishing a friendly relation with the students

The teacher-student relationship is the most pious relation on the earth. Teachers are placed above God in Indian culture. It is believed that great teachers produce great students. However, I believe that only good students create a good teacher. The holistic development of a teacher is only possible if he is gifted with the curious, innovative and sincere students.

Therefore, I give full space to my students to think and discuss even a foolish idea in the class and I have seen some amazing leads for innovation come from them. I always believe in collaborative learning where I and my students work to create something new rather than just learning laid down theories.

Ensuring the ensure the quality of education in IMR, Ghaziabad

Quality education has become a challenge especially in case of higher education with reference to enhanced global competition, heterogeneity in the social and geographical background of the student, rising demands of employability skills, and emergences of information technologies. Modern technologies used in the classroom are changing the way of the interactions between students and the teachers.

Having knowledge and capability to impart it effectively are two different things. The most unfortunate part with higher education is that there is no training for teachers of higher education whereas there is teachers’ training program even for primary teachers. I have raised this issue on many platforms but no consideration has been deliberated on this issue.

At IMR. we ensure that every teacher should possess the basic characteristics including academic discussions with fellow faculties, academic leadership, involvement with students, enterprising skills, urge for learning, teaching for learning, work for the professional development of students, research for Personal development.

We regularly conduct mock sessions of faculty members and all faculty members attend it. The feedback from fellow faculty members definitely helps in improving the teaching skills. Besides this, regular feedback from the students also helps in tuning the teacher-student learning gap.

Dr. Bishnoi’s philosophy of leadership

As I always teach to students that to become a successful leader, “follow your followers”. In the same way, we as teachers must first need to learn about the student and his learning, then only we can lead the students. I always take students individually as all of them are unique in some way.

Teaching is perhaps the only profession where someone is not only observed when he is on the job but also observed when he is out of the institute. We have to exhibit a very high role model not only academically but also socially that all of our students want to follow.

Students should opt for BBA before pursuing MBA at the PG level

In today’s competitive market, employers look for people who have a distinct quality to offer to their business and therefore BBA is the best program to do before MBA as it is meant to impart business skills to the student. BBA being a professional course sets the foundations for the business education. MBA after BBA gives an opportunity to improvise the concepts learned at BBA level and the student may devote more time to practice the applications of the concepts he has already studied in BBA.