Dr. Leena Varghese is currently the IQAC Coordinator of Al-Ameen College, Ernakulam, Kerala. She is an assistant professor and has 12 years of experience. Her qualifications include a PhD in Commerce from MG University and an MBA in Marketing from Annamalai University. She has undertaken numerous research projects in government and non-government projects. Dr. Varghese has published ten papers in reputed management practices journals and in other journals as well. Additionally, she has three publications in conference proceedings and has also attended many workshops and seminars for various activities.

Al-Ameen College

Being the IQAC Coordinator of this college, what is your philosophy of leadership? How would you describe your leadership style?

Being the IQC Director of this college, we follow a very cordial leadership style, which we used to refer to as free-range leadership. Here, the decisions are not taken at the top level, but there are a lot of committees that consist of both the teaching and non-teaching and the students, who play a very important role in discussing matters and making strategic plans. This will be then forwarded to the top-level management through the principal, who will use the information gathered from these committees to make a final decision. Leadership we can mention as free-range leadership is where there is no such autocracy at the top level executed. It is a very cordial and cooperative atmosphere where everyone is given a chance in the decision-making process.

Being the Director of this college, how do you strategize about the key programs and plans for the marketing and administration of your college?

Regarding the key programs and plans for how to market, this institution is actually a minority institution and since it is located in a remote area, it provides a lot of opportunities for minority students to come here and complete their UG and PG levels of education. Apart from that, we provide a lot of extracurricular activities, involvement in sports, literary debate and other types of activities where we mold the students to be good citizens for the future. Regarding marketing activities, social media is of great importance. All our college activities that are happening in the institution, whether they are curricular or extracurricular are updated on social media like Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter). They are also displayed on our website to give important information to the public.

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 at your college?

In my experience, I am in contact with students who have gone abroad and when we compare the types of educational systems in foreign countries and in India, there are a lot of differences. There are both plus points in the two types of education systems. As far as our institution is concerned, we give more importance to a personal touch. In foreign countries, it is a self-learning process rather than teachers giving a personal touch or personal experience to the students. Our university operates on a personal teaching policy where teachers act as personal mentors. Students get a chance to communicate not only about their curricular-related activities but can even share their personal feelings.

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

The university has provided a great structure wherein the educational institution provides reservation seats for a lot of students from different races and economic backgrounds. They are also provided with a lot of scholarships. Apart from this, the management also provides a fee waiving system for students who come from economically backward areas and from different races. Such reservations are provided not only in their education but also while participating in certain events. We provide these students with opportunities and give them the motivation to pursue their careers. The college, the institution, has a minority cell, an exclusive minority cell, where a teacher coordinator is there to address the various issues faced by these economically and socially backward students and a lot of encouragement and motivation sessions are held for such students. Apart from that, a lot of information regarding the type of scholarship, and the opportunities that are available for these students is also communicated to them by the government.

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

As a teacher, we have a great role and responsibility to the students. This is because we prefer that students to be the major stakeholders of every institution. Considering that, the teachers should act like they are the manufacturers who are manufacturing the products as per the tastes and preferences of the customers, the employers. The teacher should also design the curriculum in such a manner that the students can gain some practical insights into the industry and the teaching style should also be changed to suit the students. We also encourage a self-learning process and practical sessions should be included. The syllabus and the curriculum should be designed in such a manner that they have some importance to provide the students with for the industry.

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

The top priority of the college is that we have planned a strategy to elevate the affiliated status of the institution to an autonomous state so that it can have more freedom in framing the syllabus. The major drawback of an affiliating institution is that it is not able to publish the results in the proper manner and to conduct the examinations. To get to overcome all these difficulties, the top priority is to attain autonomous status. We do not have a research department here. We are trying to establish a research department, and then inculcate a research culture in the college. We also have an AI- space, which is an incubation centre. We also plan to have more and more projects and we have been working hard to mold the students who are studying in these institutions just to become job ready but to become job seekers as well. We give primary importance to entrepreneurship-related activities and focus on the holistic development of the students.

What do you see the college’s greatest strengths?

The greatest strength is the management, along with the infrastructure, the teachers, and the student alumni. The alumni have a great bond with us that they try to maintain. We also enjoy strong goodwill and reputation in the education sector. This has helped us with admissions, which have increased for us this year.

What are some of the biggest challenges you see, both for higher education in general at this college?

The major challenge for us is the migration of students from other countries. I think the NEP 2020 will be exclusively a process that will help the students migrating from other countries. It will also help us retain the students. I think that NEP 2020 will also open opportunities for students to undertake a job along with their studies. This has to be changed and their specialization area should be given more importance. We also need to have regular curriculum changes so that it is more inclusive and up-to-date with the latest trends.