Prof. P. P. Mathur is the Vice-Chancellor of Birla Global University, Bhubaneswar. He is a Fellow of the National Academy of Medical Sciences (India), National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI) and Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA). He has guided several Ph.D., M. Phil. and M.Sc. dissertations. He has established a Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics at Pondicherry University. He has about 45 and 39 years of research and teaching experience, respectively. He has published over 185 scientific papers/review articles in various high impact journals and books. His publications have an index of 36 (Scopus) and 47 (Google Scholar) and an i10-index of 129. He is the recipient of many prestigious awards for his contribution to the research and academics field. He has been Chairman and Member-coordinator of NAAC peer teams to around 70 institutions. He has also served as the Vice-Chancellor of KIIT, Bhubaneswar(2012-17).

BGU

What are the key factors that have kept you connected with the education industry?

“The beliefs, assumptions and convictions of our students dictate the future of our society”

How we want to foresee our country, depends upon how well we can nurture the students and shape them into becoming globally competent leaders. Teaching is the only profession that stands out from the rest in facilitating you to interact with human beings of tender age. It provides an opportunity to influence them, guide them, and nurture them. If a student becomes successful in his/her life, I take immense pride in that for the role I have played in his accomplishments. 

What is the philosophy of leadership that you practise? 

“Everybody should feel involved in the process with equal participation”

One of the reasons I was successful everywhere is because I chose participative leadership. It involves the participation of faculty along with all the pillars of the University. A university of this kind is completely focused on teaching and research.

How do you plan the administration of BGU?

“By enabling everyone with the appropriate tools of dynamic academic practices”

In this current pandemic, we have learnt many lessons. I feel that the best online and offline practices should be integrated into the curriculum. The inputs from various people like the faculty members and industry people are also taken into consideration.

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What do you see BGU’s greatest strengths to be?

“A young and active group of faculty members ready to take on new challenges everyday”

 First of all, BGU is a very young and nascent institution. Being a young university, we can change and experiment without much difficulty. The second is the young faculty pool. They can learn and absorb things very fast. I am sure that the faculty members would be able to make changes which they may perceive as happening. These are the two greatest strengths that the university possesses.

What are the challenges of being associated with the academic domain? 

“Need to introduce dynamic courses of the Science field and bring in modern learning methods”

There are challenges in every system and place. This institution started as a management institution but it is also seen as a commerce, economics, business management, law, journalism and mass communication institute. However, we need to venture towards the science stream too. It is evident that the health care sector is a booming one and capable of providing better job opportunities. We have already planned to start a School of Applied Sciences from the next academic year.

How do you tend to establish a healthy environment in the university?

“Understanding the problems of the youth and providing concrete solutions to them has helped immensely”

This is done by mentoring students and faculties and understanding their problems. As the faculties are also quite young, they gel very well with the students. Open and clear communication also allows us to maintain good relationships between all the stakeholders.

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Any suggestions that you would like to provide to the aspiring students?

“To have a positive attitude and learn from past mistakes”

I would suggest to them that we should always strive for the best. We should be very honest in our attitudes. Because at the end of the day, the other person looks for how resourceful you are, how much you can deliver for their benefit. And lastly, how you conduct yourself. So, you should be having the right kind of attitude. We must try to learn throughout life.