Professor Deepak Garg is the Vice Chancellor of SR University. He has a PhD in Computer Science with a specialization in Efficient Algorithm Design. With 25 years of experience, he has worked as a Professor and Dean of the School of Computer Science at Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala and Bennett University in Greater Noida. He is a distinguished Professor of Artificial Intelligence and is known as one of the top voices in the country on AI. 

Professor Garg regularly blogs in the Times of India with the nickname "Breaking Shackles," where he writes on the higher education landscape and AI. He is on the Advisory Committee of AIRAWAT, the Super Computing Mission of the Government of India to create an Exaflop backbone infrastructure for the country. He has represented various committees at NAAC, NBA, UGC and AICTE. Working with startup founders is his passion and he serves on the tech advisory board of Drishya.ai, ByteXL and Global AI Hub. He is the only CAC ABET Commissioner from the country and has served as PEV for the last six years. Moreover, he has been on the Board of Governors of the IEEE Education Society, USA and has served as Chair of the IEEE Computer Society, India Council and the IEEE Education Society, India Council.

SR University

What is your overarching vision for SR University, and how do you plan to translate that vision into a strategic plan that aligns with the university's mission and values?

At SR University, our vision is to enhance the regional innovation ecosystem through academic excellence, industry relevance, and social responsibility. Our strategic plan focuses on key areas like academic excellence where we enhance curriculum, faculty development, industry partnerships, and program relevance to current industry needs. We encourage research and dissemination to promote cutting-edge research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and wide dissemination. We strengthen collaborations and partnerships with industry, government, and nonprofits for community benefit. We also have embedded ethics, community service, and research addressing social issues into our culture. We use key performance indicators for continuous improvement and accountability. By implementing these strategies, SR University aligns with its mission to produce competent, industry-ready, and socially conscious leaders, engage in pioneering research, and collaborate with partners for the community's benefit. We uphold our core values of academic excellence, industry relevance, and social responsibility.

How do you intend to foster a culture of academic excellence and innovation while ensuring that students receive a high-quality education at SR University?

To promote academic excellence and innovation at SR University, we've established various centers and initiatives that engage with the academic community and industry. NEST (Nest for Entrepreneurship in Science and Technology) encourages entrepreneurship through activities like innovation challenges, workshops, and supporting incubators. At CEL (Centre for Experiential Learning), the faculty enhance teaching methodologies, ensuring high-quality education. Faculty members are certified as International Engineering Educators, ensuring globally competitive education. Our Centre for Creative Cognition focuses on design thinking and innovation, training teachers and students in creative problem-solving. The Centre for Design supports students and faculty in converting ideas into innovative products through mentorship and design challenges. These initiatives expose students to real-world challenges, innovative thinking, and high-quality education, creating a culture of academic excellence and innovation that benefits students and the broader community.

Can you provide examples of your experience in successfully managing and leading complex academic institutions, highlighting key achievements and outcomes?

Through specific interventions, we achieved high student admissions, student feedback and student placements. The whole process was made simple and student-centric to enable innovation, creativity and progress. Empowerment of faculty and student bodies was one of the key interventions. We have a specific focus on industry relations and international partners also played a pivotal role.

How do you plan to support and develop the faculty and staff to ensure their ongoing professional growth and commitment to the university's goals?

At SR University (SRU), we highly value our faculty and staff's role in achieving our educational and university goals. To ensure their growth and commitment, we've established various policies promoting a supportive and fair academic and professional environment. We have a research incentive to reward faculty for impactful research. We support research, teaching, and outreach, where we aid faculty in their academic pursuits. Besides offering various leave options for a balanced work-life we also provide a leave travel concession (LTC) that aims to provide travel benefits for personal vacations. We have defined criteria for career progression and performance appraisals that ensure comprehensive performance evaluations. We also have a system for addressing workplace issues and conflicts. Through these policies, SR University supports the professional growth and dedication of our faculty and staff, creating an environment where they can thrive and contribute to the university's success.

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In what ways will you engage with students to better understand their needs, and how will you advocate for their interests within the university's administration?

At SR University, we are deeply committed to addressing students' needs and interests through two key strategies. We have chosen batch representatives from each batch, to bridge the gap between students and administration. They enhance the learning experience and facilitate communication between students and the school or department, addressing various matters. We've established 36 active student-led clubs covering a range of interests, providing students with opportunities to pursue their passions and advocate for their concerns and ideas within the university. These clubs enhance the student experience and promote engagement.

What strategies do you have in mind for building collaborative partnerships with other educational institutions, industries, and the local community to enhance the university's impact and reputation?

At SR University, we prioritize collaborative partnerships to boost our impact and reputation. SR University holds the 98th rank in the NIRF, and this ranking opens doors for joint research, exchange programs, and academic collaborations with national and international institutions, enhancing academic diversity and global recognition. We engage industries to shape our curriculum, provide expert insights, offer internships for students, and promote industry-focused projects, ensuring industry-ready graduates. SriX, our technology business incubator is a critical asset for connecting the university with the local and regional community. SRiX is a hub for nurturing entrepreneurial ventures in hardware and cutting-edge technologies, such as IoT, AI/ML, AR/VR, and robotics. It contributes not only to the local community's economic development but also to our reputation as an institution that actively supports innovation and entrepreneurship. Our NSS program encourages community engagement, instilling a sense of social responsibility among students and strengthening community ties. Our partnership with EPICS and Purdue University empowers students to apply engineering knowledge to solve community issues, underscoring our commitment to local community development. These multi-faceted strategies enhance our university's impact, reputation, and commitment to excellence, industry relevance, and community engagement.

Can you share an example of a significant change management initiative you led in a previous role and the impact it had on the institution?

In a previous role, I led initiatives with two key components: decentralization and empowerment and transparent policies and incentives. Our change initiative aimed to break free from bureaucracy and empower heads and deans to make decisions without lengthy approvals. This streamlined processes, increased efficiency, and fostered accountability. The impact was profound, reducing bottlenecks, stimulating innovation, and boosting morale. Alongside decentralization, we introduced transparent policies and incentives to motivate staff, especially in academics and research. This recognition and reward system significantly boosted motivation, led to improved academic and research output, and enhanced the university's reputation.

How will you ensure that diversity, equity, and inclusion are prioritized at SR University, and what steps will you take to create an inclusive and welcoming campus environment?

SR University values diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as core principles in our academic and campus culture. We employ various methods to promote DEI and foster an inclusive campus. Our inclusive induction programs help staff and students integrate seamlessly, providing vital information for an easy transition. We also have student-led welcome programs where senior students organize these programs to create a welcoming environment for new students. We're committed to diversity in leadership across the university, enhancing policy development and implementation. Our curriculum celebrates diversity with tailored teaching methods for all student backgrounds. We provide cultural competency training for faculty and staff to understand and communicate effectively with a diverse student population. Our campus events and festivals celebrate diverse cultures, promoting cross-cultural understanding. Our commitment to DEI creates an inclusive, welcoming campus where all community members thrive, benefiting current students and staff while enhancing our university's reputation and impact.

As the public face of SR University, how do you plan to represent the institution to external stakeholders, including alumni, donors, government agencies, and the media?

As the face of SR University, my mission is to represent our values and engage with external stakeholders. My objective is to attract students. Positioning SR University as the top choice for academic excellence and diverse opportunities is the goal. We also want to foster alumni pride by engaging, celebrating achievements, and facilitating alumni support. Building positive impressions is important by exceeding expectations in community, industry, and government interactions while emphasizing responsibility and collaboration. My strategies include transparent communication, active engagement, alignment with expectations, empowering student ambassadors, and promoting diversity and inclusion.