Anand Achari is a Principal of VES College of Architecture, Maharashtra. He has taught graduate and postgraduate level students for 19 years. His primary focus of teaching is towards environmental architecture and sustainability. He was the Head of the Department of the PostGraduate course at Rizvi College of Architecture for 7 years . Later,taught graduate students at various architectural colleges for 21 years along with practicing Green building certification in India for the past 15 years. He has certified many buildings under USGBC, IGBC, GRIHA,etc. Anand Achari got credentials in IGBC AP, GRIHA Trainer, EDGE Auditor, and Expert, ECBC Master Trainer.

VES College of Architecture

What keeps you connected with the Education Sector and how has your experience so far with the institute?

“To build design professionals and influence youth connects me with the education sector”

I have been associated with several excellent institutions in the field of design education. My key is to work for their management and scholastic development. The core area of my interest revolves around evolving curriculum. Primary factors connecting me with the education sector are budding design professionals, and shapes their future. I always influence young minds to commit towards achieving academic excellence and professional success. It inspires my continued engagement with the education sector. The succeeding batches instill even more hope, and gain advantage of continuous improvements in their learning process.

What are your roles and responsibilities towards the students in VES College of Architecture?

“Direct personal interactions with students and monitor academic progress on campus”

My duty as Principal includes direct personal interactions with students on a daily basis. I need to pass over different stages beginning from admission interviews, orientations and more. We monitor academic progress to recognize and reward special abilities of students. They can participate in various in-house and external academic, professional or cultural events. 

Do you have any extracurricular activities to enhance students skills or expose them to real-world challenges?

“Workshops, webinars, cultural fests and skill-based competitions are provided to students”

Most programs connect students with real-world issues. Our entire team of faculty and management invest considerable time and resources in planning. Students can attend workshops, webinars, and MoUs with specialization trainers. We collaborate with government and private project executing organizations for students benefits. Cultural fests and skill-based competitions provided to students. Our annual fest ‘Shunya’ celebrates a wide range of cultural, creativity-based and sports competitions. It improves individual skills towards personality development. Many such events are organized at different times in a year and ensure overall development of students.

How does the curriculum of VESCOA ensure that students are being prepared for the future?

“Provide practical and hands-on experience to students from the campus”

Our college invested in developing state-of-the-art laboratories and workshops for Services. Students get ideas about Surveying and Leveling, Environmental Studies, Computers, Carpentry and Model-making. All of which are furnished with high-end equipment and machinery. Our laboratories are actively used for academic activities and assignments. We give practical and hands-on experience to students and familiarize them with technologies. Campus infrastructure is also subjected to a process of continuous improvement along with industry trends.We follow an integrated approach to teaching and our curriculum recommended by the University of Mumbai. Constituent subjects of the curriculum are integrated with the core studio project. 

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How do you bring in a practical approach towards subjects as industry oriented?

“ Studio sessions, juries, workshops and seminars are available to pupils”

We invite industry professionals to conduct classes, studio sessions, juries, workshops and seminars for students' betterment. They get placements, training, and college projects. We collaborate with several industry organizations and give external workshops. A major example of such a collaboration is VESCOA Abhivruddhi, a program for Continual Professional Development of students, and faculty members. Students get short term certificate courses of 12 to 30 hours from campus. 

What approaches do you bring in apart from curriculum to train the students?

“Impart design education, projects and innovations in academic activities”

We manifest as a cross- disciplinary field in which teaching content constitutes various subjects. It ranges from basic sketching, graphics, color theory, materials, surveying, specifications, structural engineering to history, culture, and sociology. We provide projects during their five year course and basic innovations in pedagogy. Faculties also engaged in inventive academic activity. Hence, we create students who are not just future-ready industry-oriented professionals, but also capable of cross-disciplinary assimilation.

What do you like people to know about VES College of Architecture they may not know?

“Green campus with a competitive infrastructure and benefits are given to pupils”

One of the pioneering bodies of the campus is Vivekananda Education Society. Our college enjoys the benefits from such an entrenched organization. We provide a large green campus for students with a globally competitive infrastructure. They can access solid, or stable guidance from campus. 

What do you see as the greatest strengths of VESCOA?

“Dedicated faculty, students and management are our greatest strengths”

The highly experienced faculties are the strength of campus. We provide a cooperative learning approach and technology inside the campus. Students can improve their creativity through several mediums such as research, and notebooks. They have an excellent library for referring their subjects in courses. If a student is facing any kind of problem they can go to the respective teacher at any time.Teachers are always happy to solve their problems.

What challenges do you see for higher education and VESCOA specifically?

“Sustainable development and lack of technological development on campus”

One of the greatest challenges is the cause of sustainable development by embedding towards a sustainable way. We face difficulty in technological development for faculties and students. Our campus is working towards that goal on a daily basis through various actions and major programs. 

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Any suggestions you would like to give to the current youth and aspiring students?

“Seek knowledge, overcome challenges and achieve success”

An architectural entrepreneur needs to be armed with three essential qualities such as Curiosity, Empathy and Initiative. You need to seek knowledge, Overcome challenges, and strive for excellence. They can focus on Discipline, Time management, Ethical values, Innovative thinking and a Positive attitude. It is a very fortunate time to be a design professional. Grab your world of opportunities and explore it.