Dr. Monalisa Kulshrestha has been working as the Head of Botany Department at SS Jain Subodh PG College, Jaipur, Rajasthan. She has done M.Sc., M.Phil. and Ph.D. as part of her academics. She is specialized in the field of Plant Physiology, Biochemistry and Plant Ecology and has 26 years of teaching (UG and PG) experience. She has published many research papers in national and international journals and has attended more than 60 workshops, conferences and seminars.

SS Jain Subodh PG College

Being the Head of the Botany Department, what are your responsibilities towards the students?

"To conduct events and activities to enhance their knowledge and skills"

As a Head of Botany department, my responsibilities towards my students is to strengthen their subject knowledge both in terms of theory and practical by inviting subject’s experts, organize activities such as guest lectures, seminar, workshop, conferences, educational visits, plant excursion etc. Apart from this, I also need to check whether all the facilities of the laboratory (including plant working material, glass wares, chemicals, and major/minor equipment) are working properly or not. To provide required study material and last year papers to them for preparation of competitive exams and organize the Board of Studies of U.G. and P.G. courses of Botany is what constitutes some of my other accountabilities towards them. 

How do you establish healthy relations with the students and fellow faculty? 

"By taking care of their issue and ensuring the ambiance of trust and mutual respect"

To make my relationship cordial with my students and fellow faculty, I ensure my availability whenever they need my support and I always listen to them carefully when they express their views about teaching facilities or any sort of study difficulties. Sometimes I talk to parents of students as well to appreciate them when they achieve any milestone. Also my fellow faculty members are hard working and honest towards their work, hence I fully support them professionally as well as personally and give them the respect they deserve.

How do you introduce a practical and industry oriented approach towards subjects?

"By organizing events like professional tours, guest sessions and workshops"

We organize guest lectures, workshops, and industrial visits via. Botanical Survey of India, Rajasthan Medicinal Plant Board, Biodiversity Board for our students to enforce an industry connectedness and practical approach towards subjects. We have also signed MOUs with few Industries and Colleges (Ayush Industry and SKN Agriculture University, Jobner District Jaipur Rajasthan) to bring best learning opportunities for students.

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

"We design it after analysing industry requirements, expert suggestions and students needs" 

We design and update the Curriculum according to the need of our students and demand of the subject knowledge at UG and PG level. Simultaneously, we are waiting for the National Education Policy 22 to be implemented at the University of Rajasthan. Syllabus of various subjects gets updated regularly through BOS organized meetings where members of university officials and our college internal members take part and provide their suggestions.

What are your views on the placements and higher education of the students from your department?

"Our students are doing wonders in both the areas"

Our students are placed in BSI Jodhpur as researchers, and as lecturers in different universities, colleges and coaching centers. Few of our students are also pursuing their PhD degree from Delhi University, Jodhpur University and Rajasthan University. So in my opinion, we are doing great in both areas.

How do you prepare your students to cope up with this competitive world? 

"To directly expose them with industrial environment, we organize special lectures"

We conduct special lectures for our students where we invite industry experts to share their experiences, knowledge and what industry expects from our freshly graduated students, in other words industry requirements from us. We also organise motivation sessions and provide them study material as and when required.

What extracurricular activities are organized in your college to enhance the skills of students?

"We offer them courses on latest technologies and conduct EACs regularly"

Our college regularly conducts Entrepreneurship awareness camps under the sponsorship of National Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB) for our students. Along with this, we offer courses on soil analysis, water analysis, wellness yoga training to expose them to the real world.

What are your views on today's education system?

"It's scope is very limited when it comes to employment opportunities"

I believe our education system is not effective in generating employment at graduate level or postgraduate level. Our students are usually busy in competitive examinations like SSC etc. during this time because most of these courses just fulfill the minimum qualification of the examination.

Which approaches do you bring in apart from curriculum to teach students?

"Short term training programs and research projects is what we assign them on regular basis"

We assign various kinds of research projects to our students during their graduation time. We also provide them short term training programs, hands on knowledge through experiments and educational tours. 

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Any valuable advice which you would like to give to the students to have a prosperous career ahead?

"Choose your own journey and invest your full efforts to achieve your goals"

My advice to my dear students is that your career is not only your priority, but it is your parents dream as well. So set realistic goals for yourself and give your 100% to achieve them. Because in today's time, you have every opportunity available, you can choose any field like sports, games, art, music, science and technology, education depending on your passion. Hence focus on enhancing your skills, keep yourself updated with the latest industry trends, create opportunities to do something new everyday. Lastly, stay motivated.