Annie Liza V J is currently the HOD of Management Studies of Don Bosco College, Sultan Bathery, Wayanad, Kerala. She has been an Assistant Professor of Management Studies and has over 20 years of experience. Her qualifications include an MBA degree and an M.Phil. Professor Annie has participated in and presented papers in numerous international and national seminars in her area of expertise.

Don Bosco College Sulthan Bathery

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?

One of the key factors that help me enjoy my work at Don Bosco is my relationship with the students. I have a good relationship with the students over the years, that I greatly treasure. It is very rewarding to see them graduate with bright colours and become successful. As I am able to improve in my field because teaching, and being able to connect with society are also contributing key factors.

Being the HOD of Don Bosco College, what is your philosophy of leadership? How would you describe your leadership style?

I believe in teamwork, so it is not something that the HOD alone can work on or build a great institute. I believe that because of my crew, we are able to function well. I believe in the philosophy of teamwork and leadership by example, I practice them at the department level also. Our students learn to be leaders themselves. Leaders cannot move alone but only if they have established a good rapport with the followers they can be good leaders. So to build proper teamwork it is very important to be a good leader.

Being the HOD of Don Bosco College, how do you strategize about the key programs and plans for the marketing and administration of your school?

Normally we look back upon what has happened in the previous year and consider that to come up with the upcoming year’s strategies and plans. The administration and faculty sit together with all the HODs together along with the academic council for this discussion. We come up with the different steps to achieve our goals and then we make major decisions. In the end, this is not something that the management is forcing us to do, it is something we coordinate together to come up with a common decision-making path. This way everybody’s ideas are considered.

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

Taking into consideration Don Bosco’s education we are very different from other colleges. We have a system where we feel at home. We have established three pillars of the education system which are faith, value and love and consideration. Our students are taught by qualified professionals and are geared for success. Moreover, they are also disciplined individuals who are taught to be extremely caring and kind. This is what differentiates our students from others.

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How does the curriculum of Don Bosco College ensure the best practice of industry?

Our curriculum best practices have, so far, a 100% success rate. We have our students moving on for higher education to international institutes. Completion of the syllabus on time, being more disciplined, and having a relationship with the community, are all of our best practices. We even have add-on courses, concentrate on polishing communication skills, have a mentoring system to guide students and have multiple extracurricular activities for students to participate in.

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

Don Bosco College is welcoming to students from all backgrounds. We have a policy of not differentiating students based on race and economic background. All incoming students are considered equal here. We are constantly striving to make the college and campus to be home-like where students are comfortable. We also allow our students to apply to scholarships, state and national for financial aid. Meritorious students can also receive financial aid here.

What do you think your roles and responsibilities to the Don Bosco College and the students are?

As the HOD, I have a lot of responsibility towards the college and the students. I need to ensure my students are getting a quality education. They must be trained and go through internships to get practical exposure to the knowledge learnt in the class. Additionally, I want to make sure that the students are not just high achievers with the best marks, they also be upstanding, responsible citizens.

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

The priority for Don Bosco College, in the next 10 years is to keep upgrading the syllabus. This is very essential, as most of the present syllabuses are outdated. What we learn must be given importance and for the universities, is that we should try to include the trending skills and knowledge. This is the only way to retain our students by making changes overall. Teaching students to be able to earn while studying is an overall goal that has to be made.

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When you first came to Don Bosco College, what was your vision for the College? Has it evolved over time, and how far along in implementing that vision are you?

When I joined Don Bosco, I was just a teacher but now I am something beyond that. It has made me a fully responsible and whole person. It has taught many things than just put in the syllabus like how to deal with different types of students. It has made me able to handle different roles and shaped me very well. I had travelled very far from when I first joined, the college has polished my communication skills, be more responsible and confident, my personality skills etc. A lot of changes have taken place within me that I try to bring to my students as well.

What do you see as Don Bosco College’s greatest strengths?

The greatest strength of Don Bosco institutions is that we are widespread not just nationally but internationally. We are, presently, in 134 countries and it is run by felicias father. We have the same system in all our branches, and it is bringing students together by giving them a feeling of home. All of us try to be with them, try to understand them, teach them, and give importance to the young generation. The institute also prioritises molding the young generation.