Mr Karunesh Saxena is a Vice Chancellor of the Sangam University, Bhilwara, Rajasthan. He was Ex Director FMS, IQAC, & CDC, ML Sukhadia University Udaipur Rajasthan India. He has more than 35 years of Corporate and Academic experience. He has served Dr. H. S. Gour University Sagar(M.P.), Vikram University Ujjain (M.P.), Jammu University, Jammu, IGNOU New Delhi. He is Chair Professor ICCR, (a Govt of India institute), New Delhi. Under this assignment, he completed one term as Chair professor in Papua New Guinea. He has created nearly 200 educational films for UGC. At present a 4 credits (40 modules) MOOC program on Business Statistics, developed by him is successfully running on SWAYAM Platform. He is an expert resource person for COL-CEMCA, New Delhi, NAAC, UGC, AICTE etc. He has so far guided 43 Research scholars for their PhD work. 8 more are pursuing their Research work under his supervision. He has contributed nearly 150 Research papers. Recently, he was nominated by UGC, New Delhi to the high power committee for implementation of National Education Policy NEP 2020.

Sangam University

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

“More to accomplish, learn, and continuous learning connects me with the education sector”

There are different factors that keep me connected with education. I have read the book Stay hungry, stay foolish by Rashmi Bansal. This book explains to me that there is always more to accomplish/earn, learning that philosophy keeps me connected to higher education. We believe in continuous learning, and continuous improvement, which is termed Kaizen. Moreover, another factor that keeps me connected with education is that you can live forever youthful if you maintain your connection to yourself.

Being a Vice Chancellor of Sangam University, what is your philosophy of leadership?

“Combination of transformational and coaching leadership is my leadership philosophy” 

Being a prof of management and also a trainer of refuge I always take training programs in leadership style, so I am very well aware of my leadership style, which I can say as a combination of transformational leadership and coaching leadership Transformational leadership goes beyond self-interests to identify essential change, and the same. I wanted to bring a lot of positive changes to Sangam University in a short period of time and coaching leadership. We believe in nurturing and training. I use this style to nurture and train my young staff members and students. It helps us to empower and make them a responsible person.

What according to you Sangam University is doing to keep the student updated with technological advancements that is currently going on?

“Making use of ERP in all our operations, and preparing our mobile application for students” 

As we can see, it is very difficult to imagine the future of education without information and communication technology. In 1996, I joined Indira Gandhi National Open University in New Delhi. It was my first interaction with electronic media in a telecom conferencing session and that was a very thrilling and amazing experience to face the camera for the first time. At that time, I was so excited and nervous too, but by the time I became more comfortable with the camera. Also, in the last two decades, I have created nearly 250 educational films for UGC. At present, a 4 credits (40 modules) Massive Open Online Course(MOOC) program on Business Statistics developed by me is successfully running on SWAYAM Platform. I was also awarded for the same MOOC program by the University Grant Commission (UGC), New Delhi. I myself am highly tech-savvy, and this philosophy I have brought to Sangam university. We are making use of ERP in all our operations and envelope of preparing our mobile application for students which will make their life at Sangam University easy, and help them to learn new things.

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What according to Sangam University do to encourage and promote the students to come up with more innovative ideas?

“Organize entrepreneurship programs, startup projects and more on campus”

India has made great strides in the field of startups. We are brand number three in the world after US, China, and Indian youth have taken a great liking for the startups. We also have so many innovative students who are bubbling up with so many creative ideas. Bhilwara being a textile city and also an industrial city. We are having so many students who are very keenly interested in setting up their own startup projects. Our campus provides a nurturing environment for such budding entrepreneurs like we organize entrepreneurship programs. This will help different experts from different parts of the country. Apart from that, the students of Computer Science and BCA students also participate in the Smart India Hackathon competition organized by the Ministry of Education's Innovation Cell. We are making every effort possible to encourage students to come up with innovative as well as sustainable business ideas.

Elaborate on the placement drives and placement cell to ensure a smooth running of the Placement drive in Sangam University?

“Provide full-fledged training, and high packages with good placements are given to students”

It’s true that primarily our students are interested in taking placements. We can’t force students to become entrepreneurs, because as said Success is not final, failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts said by Winston Churchill. Becoming an entrepreneur means being ready to take risks in one’s own interest and capabilities. So, we allow only those students to participate in the entrepreneurship programs who are passionate and 100% devoted to the rest of the students. We have a full-fledged training, placement officer and complete paraphernalia to ensure that our students are placed in the top companies. As a result of the batch of 21-22, almost 400 students have been placed from the campus itself. The highest package for undergraduate students is 12-13 lakhs per annum, whereas, for graduate students the package ranges from around 8 lakhs per annum to 12 lakhs per annum. Top recruiters including Byjus, Indigo, ICICI Prudential, IMS people, Mahindra Agro, LipiData, Wipro, Innova Automation, etc are visiting our campus every year. 

How do you encourage the students to do the research in Sangam University?

“Guide pupils with quality management, research and more in the campus”

I have been in Academics for more than three decades and during this period of time. We guided 45 Ph.D. scholars, and 7 more are under my supervision. In fact, I often try to pick those students who are research acumen and many of them are students from the executive MBA program itself. I have a process of nurturing the students. I do a psychometric analysis of the research scholar who comes to do research under my supervision. I assign that particular topic, which is of great importance and significance to them. If they are working executives then the topic is very close to their daily curricula. For example, If someone is a quality control manager, I'll guide them on quality management. This is how I am able to encourage students. When I motivate the research scholars, I always do so by giving appreciation for their hard work rather than directly pointing out any mistakes they might have made, in such a manner. I am able to gain their confidence and trust to share their findings with me without hesitation.

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Any feedback/suggestions you would like to share with the new generation coming forward?

“Learn continuously in your entire lifetime and live forever”

Like Mahatma Gandhi said Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever. Let the learner inside you fade away, and continue to learn throughout your entire lifetime.