An educator and researcher with more than 20 years of teaching experience, Dr. Sangita Dutta Gupta is presently working as Associate Professor- Economics at BML Munjal University, Gurgaon. She has presented research papers in well-known national and international conferences and has been serving on the editorial review board of the International Journal of Emerging Markets. Moreover, she has published research papers in well-known peer-reviewed journals like Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Management Decision, Benchmarking: An International Journal, etc. 

BML Munjal University

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

“Teaching, mentoring and facilitating professional growth”

A teacher is not someone whose sole responsibility is only to teach the subject to the students. A faculty should be beyond that. Mentoring the students and being their guide is also an important responsibility of the faculty. Apart from teaching the subject and making them understand the theories and policies, my role is to mentor them at every step. To guide them with placement, help them choose appropriate courses, and also to help them in developing their professional profiles. I help my students to identify their strengths and weaknesses and encourage them to work on those aspects to become a better version of themselves. They can reach out if they are facing personal issues. I encourage them to identify their goals in life and work towards them. The faculty facilitates the journey of a student to the professional world. 

What unique teaching style do you bring in to train the students?

“Playing simulations related to the real world practices”

Economics is the mother of all subjects. A good understanding of this subject is important for business decision-making. We teach two core subjects at the MBA level. Microeconomics is taught in module 1 and Macroeconomics and Policy in module 2. I believe that MBA students need to understand the applications of economic theories and tools in business decision-making. So, we try to bring in practical approaches and industry perspectives in the courses. In my Economics class, I conduct business simulations where the participants take a business decision in a simulated situation. We do a lot of diverse cases in the class. Students do a lot of brainstorming in groups and try to come up with solutions. We have done cases on Behavioral Economics, Oligopoly markets, and sharing economy. There are debates in the class about current economic trends as well. There are also guest lecture sessions conducted by industry experts or eminent economists. At the end of the module, participants in the programme are in a position to apply economic theories for business decision-making. The role of a faculty in an MBA programme is more of a facilitator. 

How do you strategize the curriculum and make it befitting for the students?

“Relevant updation and introduction of topics”

We endeavor to provide an updated curriculum and strive to give the best experiences to the students. The curriculum is presented to the Board of Studies for approval. The Board of Studies in Munjal University comprises eminent academicians and industry experts. We felt that it is important for students to know about aggregator business models and the working of such models. Also, we have decided to include modules on the digital economy, sharing, and gig economy in our Micro syllabus. We have introduced the modules and they were taught through cases. We always try to provide an updated curriculum to the students, so that they can relate more and thoroughly enjoy the topics. 

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How do you help your student to cope up with the high competition outside?

“Enriching self-confidence and skills among students”

The best way to cope up with the competition is to have self-belief. In our university, we instill that self-belief among our students that they are the best and can compete with anyone. Our pedagogical interventions, updated curriculum, fantastic faculty, and industry integrations ensure that they get the best possible training and are ready to face any situation. They are groomed to be industry-ready. Our mentorship programme and our pieces of training help our students to face the challenges of the outside world.

What valuable advice would you give to the students to have a prosperous career?

“Be aware and acquire knowledge from various resources”

Students need to remain focused on their career aspirations and work on their strengths to propel their career advancements. I believe that the students need to be aware of what is happening around them. They should develop the habit of reading newspapers. Being aware of the current trends in business and the economy can broaden their horizon and help in their interviews. They also need to be thorough with concepts. It is also important to venture out of their comfort zones. They need to be a life-long learner and should be able to embrace highs and lows in life.

How do you maintain a healthy relationship with your students?

“Interacting in an effective manner”

For me, the key is to keep the communication channels open and to treat them as adults. I am always available to the students so that they can reach out to me anytime and for anything. I try to help them in their journey so they can realize their dreams. I collaborate with students in research and write articles with them. I appreciate their views and try to incorporate them whenever possible.

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How do you help your students in the placement process?

“Preparing them with best practices and profiles”

As I mentor a group of students, I feel a faculty can play an important role in the placement process of the student. My mentoring process starts with asking them to prepare their SWOT analysis. Students are asked to identify their strengths and weaknesses so that they can work on them. I encourage them to write about their long-term goals, and which are the companies and profiles they are looking for in the future. Based on their aspirations, I guide students about the courses they should take or the certifications they should opt for as it would make them understand what the companies are looking for. It will not only increase their knowledge horizon but also prepare them for the current changing world. I give them inputs about their CVs and profiles. Quick and personal feedback about CV can be very helpful to them. I believe my job is to be with them throughout their MBA journey till they get a good job.