Prof. (Dr.) V. Vijayakumar is the Vice-Chancellor of the National Law Institute University, Bhopal. He has held several teaching positions in his life. He specializes in Human Rights Law, Law of Elections, Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, Refugee and Humanitarian Law. He has been a visiting Scholar with York University, Toronto, Canada at its Centre for Refugee Studies. He has been awarded the Amity Academic Excellence Award and the Best Vice-Chancellor’s Award by the Indian Redcross Society. He has contributed to the publication of 2 books and has been the author of 47 articles that were published in various national & international journals.

National Law Institute University

What is your philosophy of leadership?

“Polite communication with everyone, and keeping the doors open for expressing their grievances”

Leadership involves participatory role, consultancy among stakeholders, making decisions based on consensus and getting them executed. Another important aspect of leadership quality is constant supervision and coordination with various stakeholders. The most important role of a leader is to find the right people who are capable of carrying out the assigned job and then assigning the respective job to them. Also, to remain neutral and not take sides with anyone for good or bad.

How does the curriculum of NLIU ensure the best practice of industry?

“A unique council for curriculum development and involvement of expert faculty”

The curriculum at NLIU is determined by diverse factors. All higher educational institutions, particularly in the field of law, have the freedom to enrich the curriculum periodically. This includes Optional courses, Clinical Courses, Honours courses as well as interdisciplinary courses. 

  • The NLIU has a ‘Curriculum Development Committee’ (CDC) consisting of senior teachers and teachers from interdisciplinary courses. 
  • The Vice-Chancellor is always available at the scheduled meetings of the CDC. 
  • One among the unique work done at NLIU is the complete interaction with the software industry for placing the Master of Cyber Law and Information Security (MCLIS) students.
  • In the two-year-long MCLIS course consisting of four semesters, the students spend one full semester (IV semester) as interns in various companies. 

What do you think should be the University’s top priority over the next 10 years?

“Launch newer courses and establish MoU’s with other academic institutions”

NLIU has been approved by the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India to be the first University to offer its two-year Graduate Insolvency Programme. We have initiated discussions on the introduction of one batch of B.Sc.LL.B (Information Security) from the next academic year. Taking a clue from the National Education Policy, 2020, NLIU would like to introduce a four-year B.S course in Information security course as well. Along with this, the post-graduate Diploma in ‘Cyber Law, Cyber Crime Investigations and Digital Forensics’ will be started too. Initiatives have already been taken to establish a modern ‘Cyber Forensic Lab’ on its campus. This would be functional by the end of 2021 and efforts are being discussed to make it a Virtual Cyber Forensic Law. One more Branch in LL.M will be introduced on Alternative Dispute Resolution apart from three existing specializations. At least three P.G Diploma courses would be launched by September 2021. 

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What would you like people to know about your university they may not know?

“NLIU would be launching the Graduate Insolvency Programme during June 2021”

  • NLIU has 50+ acres of green campus with a good guest house. 
  • The library is the central attraction for every visitor, students and staff. 
  • In terms of the courses, the two-year MCLIS course has ushered in academia-industry collaboration. 
  • NLIU has adopted two villages by the PULER cell of NLIU and the Legal Aid Clinic.
  • Efforts are on two adopt three more villages by the end of 2021, and host many events, both international and national, that attract a large number of students to our campus.
  • By September 2021, three P.G Diploma courses would be launched. Faculty and administrative positions are also being advertised during June-July 2021. 
  • The new website of NLIU is being revamped and linked to social media platforms as well.

What do you see as NLIU’s greatest strengths?

“The greatest strength of NLIU lies in its faculty and students”

  • With many students taking a keen interest in joining judicial services, NLIU has contributed in this regard over the past few years.
  • NLIU’s strength is its green campus, infrastructural facilities and remaining a good host to everyone. 
  • We would certainly become a hub for the Cyber Law and Information Security related courses, training and research and the Cyber Forensics Lab.

What are some of the biggest challenges for higher education?

“There is a huge gap in the ratio of qualified teachers and number of enrolled students”

  • A complete overhaul of higher education was overdue for a long time. The UGC has done some concrete work but the institutions have not internalised those ideas.
  • Teachers in higher educational institutions deserve decent salaries and other service conditions. 
  • Due to increased expenditure on the appointment of teachers, diverse methods are followed by institutions to minimise the expenditure. 
  • With the pandemic coming to an end soon, the blended model of teaching would continue and there is every need for the HEIs to gear up for this. 
  • With the suggestion to exclude Legal and Medical education by the National Education Policy, 2020, once again the field is open for a series of conflicts among the regulators. This needs to be addressed. 
  • Legal education reforms need the conscious support of the Academia, Bar and the Bench apart from the governments.

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Any suggestions you would like to give to the aspiring students?

“In legal education, the students should be encouraged to participate in the classroom discussions”

Legal education is expected to promote critical thinking in a multi-disciplinary and at times even trans-disciplinary approach. This would be possible only when there is constant and constructive interaction between the teacher and the students. They should inculcate the habit of reading at least one newspaper in their own vernacular language and one in English. This would provide lots of input and general awareness about the developments. Finally, I would like to add that if the students work hard during their course, they can enjoy the comforts of life in the real world. So, enjoy the process of learning, whichever institution you may join.