Vishakha Apte is a Professor of the Chhatrapati Shahu Institute Of Business Education And Research - [CSIBER ], Kolhapur. was brought up in the cultural and social atmosphere of Baroda which developed her interest in Theatre, Music, and Literature along with academic achievements. He did B.Com. With Marketing and M.A, Industrial Economics From M.S. University Baroda. Later, he did M.Phil. From SIBER Kolhapur and completed Doctorate in Economics from Shivaji University. He is a core committee member of Confederation Of Indian Industries, launched the Kolhapur Chapter of ‘Indian women Network’ in Kolhapur and past president of Rotary Club of Gargis’ Kolhapur. He worked as Principal of Kolhapur Institute of Technology’s Institute of Management education and Research from June 2011- 2016. Also, he became Professor at Indira School of Business Studies, Pune, lecturer and Coordinator of MBA section of Deshbhakt Ratnappa Kumbhar College of Commerce, Kolhapur for 12 years. He has 30 years of academic experience. She is an alumnus Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad for Faculty Development Program. Her core values are sincerity, devotion and Discipline.

CSIBER

You have held key positions at education institutes throughout your professional career. What are the key factors that keep you connected with the education sector?

“Youth, young boys and girls full of dreams in their eyes, enthusiasm to do something and their Energy connects me with the education sector”

I have been associated with Management Education for the last 32 years. My career began in the M. S. University of Baroda Gujarat after 7 ½ years in Baroda, I moved to Kolhapur Maharashtra and served here thereafter. The most important transition I have seen is the use of ICT and students' awareness level. The most important thing that has kept me connected to the education sector is the Youth, young boys and girls full of dreams in their eyes, enthusiasm to do something and their energy. And next to it is the ever evolving nature of this sector. It’s the most dynamic sector because of constant knowledge creation happening in this sector. 

Being the Professor of campus, what is your philosophy of leadership and describe your leadership style?

“Be the person that you expect your team members to be”

My philosophy of leadership is to be the person that you expect your team members to be. I have always been on the level with my team members. Never lead from above, yes but 90% professionalism and 10% personalism. I have a workplace politics band as a leader and tried to stop it even with my subordinates though I never use this word. I prefer to say ‘Team’.

Being the Professor, how do you strategize about the key programs and plans for the marketing and administration of CSIBER?

“Use personal communication with students and parents as my marketing strategy”

Really speaking if you use the word marketing then I will use marketing terminology. You give the students what they want but help them to understand what they want. This is my marketing philosophy. I as a head/director of the institute have always used personal communication with students and parents as my marketing strategy. It has always worked for me. Though I am not the director now my belief remains the same. So far as Administration is concerned, I have always used two things, One is developing a system on paper or designing a workflow chart and letting every person in the organization where he/she stands in the whole picture and another is members’ sense of Responsibility.

The education systems in India and other foreign countries are structured very differently. In your experience, what can an inbound student gain from studying in CSIBER?

“Best experiences inside and outside the classroom are available to pupils”

There is a difference but it is narrowing nowadays. Especially the choice based credit system, credit transfers system, credit banks etc. what has not really changed is the teachers and parents expectations. The students who come to study Management, Computer science and environment science in our institute, which is CSIBER, will get the best experience inside the classroom and outside the classroom. They get exposure to state of the art soft and hard infrastructure and continuously updated knowledge.

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

“Take feedback from two experts from industry and incorporate their suggestions in the syllabus” 

While designing the curriculum it’s our practice to take feedback from two experts from industry and incorporate their suggestions in the syllabus.

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

“Develop a culture of trust and confidence on campus”

University is a place where students come with lots of dreams and hopes in a way students give their future life in the hands of the institute or university. The most important thing is to develop a culture of trust and confidence. We create that trust in the minds of the students.

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

“To create students as good human beings is my primary duty”

I have always perceived my role as a coach, mentor and guide who ignites confidence amongst the minds of young students who have yet to explore the world. Knowledge inside the class is only 10% useful for the students to succeed in real life. I create them to be good human beings.

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

“Spend resources on building a culture of values, research and knowledge” 

According to me, for the next 10 years universities should spend resources on building a culture of values, research and knowledge. Universities should relax certain rules and regulations which are in fact creating a hindrance for practical wisdom to come forward. This is something we should learn from foreign Universities.

When you first came to CSIBER, what was your vision for the university and how far along in implementing that vision are you?

“To focus on student growth in future by imparting new courses on campus”

Our vision is to focus on student growth in future. I came to this area 26 years back and it has certainly evolved a lot but needs to be much more progressive.

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

“Frequently change our course content and curriculum as per industrial standards”

People should know that we frequently change our course content and curriculum as per the market need. It is beneficial to update students' knowledge as per industrial standards. 

What do you see as CSIBER greatest strengths?

“Culture of embracing change, adopting new practices and moving forward together are our greatest strengths”

I think it is the culture of CSIBER that makes it unique. This is a culture of embracing change, adopting new practices and moving forward together are the strength of CSIBER.

What are some of the biggest challenges you see, both for higher education in general and campus?

“Glaring contrast of salaries between the private and government institutions is a greatest challenge”

The biggest challenge that higher education faces today is the glaring contrast of salaries between the private and government institutions. Teaching in private institutes is at par or even better than government institutes but the salaries are much less and one of the most de-motivating factors for the teachers. Another serious problem is the quality of research happening in educational institutions. Lot needs to be improved there.

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

“Work with people and at ground level to understand yourself”

Young girls and boys should really find out what they want to do in life. I mean not at the moment but in the long term what would bring peace in their life. Spend time exploring this. Work with people and at ground level to understand yourself.

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What are some plans that you’re currently designing for campus and students?

“To develop students' ability to devote themselves to something like a business idea”

Currently, I have been handling the Entrepreneurship Development Cell of the college and also the Industry Institute Interaction Cell. I want to develop students' ability to devote themselves to something like a business idea and take risks to go with it instead of taking up a job which will pay a monthly assured salary. 

How do you tend to establish a healthy relationship and environment on campus?

“Mentorship programs and communication skills establish good relationships on campus”

I have always believed in communication rather than rules. I think rules on paper can catch an offender but cannot prevent it from happening. Communication can prevent a crime from happening. We have a mentorship program whereby I personally fulfill this.