Dr. Sabu Thomas is the Vice-Chancellor at Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam. He has a Ph.D. in Engineering from IIT Kharagpur. He aims at using his excellent administrative and academic background to bring in a high level of global networking. Dr. Sabu plans on making the university a place for teaching, research, and extension. 

Mahatma Gandhi University

What is your philosophy of leadership? How would you describe your leadership style?

“All about team building and keeping them included”

In my opinion, the leader of the university requires competence and the ability to upgrade the quality of the educational system of the University. Through the teaching, learning, and evaluation process, the leader should be in a position to produce high quality, socially committed, and highly skilled manpower for nation-building. I can work hard along with the academic and administrative team members of the University for the transformation of University into a world-class University.

How do you strategize about the key programs and plans for the marketing and administration of your University?

“Prioritizing quality in the system”

The focus of the strategy will be on ensuring that Mahatma Gandhi University provides the best education possible to the students for holistic development. The introduction of an interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary approach in teaching is another important aspect. The long term plans also include -

  • Enhancing new technology for pedagogy and online delivery of courses like massive open online courses –and student exchange, seminars ensuring highest quality program
  • Strengthening of employability of graduates and empowerment of the students especially physically and mentally challenged
  • Expansion and enlargement of vocational and technical education -To create a platform for lifelong skills development prospects and lifelong learning opportunities

In your experience, what can an inbound student gain from studying here at your University?

“They study our culture and way of living beside the curriculum”

MGU is hosting a lot of international students in various departments. The students are either coming for a short duration for a project or a full Ph.D. The focus of this movement is to establish research collaborations with universities abroad. Also, this will help to show the capability of your university to compete with other foreign universities. We are very strong in certain areas like nano and polymer. They also study our culture and way of living.

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How does the curriculum of Mahatma Gandhi University ensure the best practice of industry?

“Besides the theoretical curriculum, we arrange lectures by industry personnel”

A good number of students are moving to the industry sector after completing the course. One of the prime focus of the university is to provide talented candidates to the industry. For this, necessary up-gradation in the syllabus is being done. We send students to industry for an internship. We have industry-supported projects. We have industry experts in our Board of Studies. The university is frequently conducting invited lectures from experts from various industries. In the last couple of years, many companies visited MG University for campus placement and plenty of students got employed through campus selection.

Any insights into how your University could be more welcoming to students of different races or economic backgrounds?

“Admission is purely based on the merit-based”

MG university doesn’t have any discrimination to students about their races and economic background during admission and post-admission. We want to have a diverse campus. The university has certain scholarship schemes to support economically weak students. We follow very strictly the reservation policies of the government.

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

“A student-centric environment for the best outcomes” 

Being a Vice-chancellor, I am taking care of the routine activities of the university. Other responsibilities include up-gradation of the quality of the educational system of the University.

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

“The gift of knowledge stays with you till the very end”

Education is a life-long asset. Students must effectively utilize the opportunity, because, once you missed the chance, you may not be in a position to come back and learn, even you wish. Each student must understand it and study accordingly. Higher education is highly competitive and for getting higher education, the students have to work hard. The goal-oriented study and consistent hard work never fail. They should be driven by the spirit of equity, social justice, secularism, sustainability, inclusiveness, diversity, accessibility, and excellence.