Dr. S. S. Rawat is the Admissions Director of GRD College. With a B.Ed. in Math and Science, an MBA in HR and Marketing, an MA in Mathematics, and a B.Sc. in PCM, he also completed an M.Sc. in Mathematics. Dr. Rawat has over 15 years of experience in his field and has published research papers in 20 different national and international journals.

GRD college

What inspired you to pursue a career in higher education administration, and what drew you to your current role as a Professor/Admissions Director?

During my school days, I was always interested in the authority and power teachers hold in a school. Initially, I thought of having a career as a school teacher, but in my college days, my plans changed and I aimed to be a professor, so I pursued higher education. My passion for education and learning drew me to this position and I try my level best to use my experience and learning to help the youth shape their future. Also, adding value to the role of a dean is interesting, as it requires continuous learning, adaptation, and professional growth.

What are your primary responsibilities as an Admission Director and how do you balance them with other aspects of your job?

As an Admissions Director, I do have a lot of responsibilities, which are towards the students and the faculty of this college. I ensure that the education and extracurricular activities are always up to par and according to the educational standard that we have set for this college. This involves planning, strategizing and working towards the betterment of the students and faculty. Recruiting and hiring well educated faculty is a must, along with the development of teachers by conducting workshops for them. We try to create an environment that supports student welfare. This mainly includes counselling, training and ensuring that our students are provided with appropriate resources. When it comes to balancing the same, I try to delegate the work and involve other faculty members if needed. Also, communication is the key to having a healthy and friendly relationship with your staff as well as the students.

What are some valuable insights of the program that you are offering at your institute/department?

As I am more involved with the Management department, the courses we are offering as of now include MBA, BBA and B.Com. Honors. We have well qualified teachers for these programs and the student count is good. Most of our professors are highly educated and have completed their PhD degrees. Our MBA course covers subjects including marketing, management principles, operations management, supply chain management, and organisational behaviour. Also, we have specialisations in Human Resource Management, Finance, Marketing, and International Business. Our BBA course prepares our students for careers in management, finance, accounting, or other fields related to business, and the B.Com. course is the best option for students who want to make a career in commerce, accounting, finance, banking and insurance. It is also ideal for those who wish to pursue Chartered Accountancy, Cost Accounting and Company Secretaryship.

How do you help your student to cope up with the competition being so high in the outside world?

We at GRD try our level best to help our students and keep them in a safe environment with adequate growth for education and career building. We offer career counselling services to help students identify their strengths, interests, and career goals. The college also provides opportunities for students to acquire practical, hands-on skills relevant to their chosen fields. We often organise networking events, industry seminars, and career fairs to connect students with professionals and potential employers. In a few departments, we also try to provide opportunities for international exposure, such as exchange programs or collaborations with global institutions. By combining these strategies, we can empower our students not only academically but also with the skills and mindset needed to learn and succeed in a competitive outside world.

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When you came to the college, what was your vision and how are you trying to achieve the same?

I came to the college as a professor and was further promoted to be the Admissions Director. I was taking lectures and managing admissions. The college was just coming up and was trying to build a standard for itself in the field of education and I was one of the first professors who were appointed to teaching. My vision was to provide a good education to the students based on my teaching and experience and to prepare them for the challenges they may face in the future when it comes to choosing a career for them. I worked hard to provide quality teaching to the students and also maintained a good relationship with my co-workers. Maintaining a good relationship with my faculty and working hard along with them for the upliftment of the college and all the students is how I try to achieve my vision.

What do you see the department’s/ college’s greatest strengths and how it can be enhanced?

The greatest strengths of colleges are their students and the education provided to them. In this college, we do have a good number of students and all of them are being provided with quality education at a very reasonable cost. Along with education, the other strengths are our faculty members and the senior management, who look after the daily operations going on. They also make sure that the students as well as the faculty maintain a code of respect with each other. Our education can be enhanced by continuous improvement in curriculum and practicing a culture of innovation that can help maintain and enhance academic standards. Regular maintenance of buildings and trying to use the latest technology will keep our facilities up-to-date. Moreover, maintaining strong connections with alumni, involving them in mentorship programs, and leveraging their expertise will benefit our current students.

Can you describe any specific measures or programs that your institution has implemented to address the rising mental health issues and stress among students in India?

Students these days feel stressed due to their studies and life at their colleges, which is also a main reason for the increase in mental health issues. We do talk to our students about the same but in India, people do not give much importance to this topic as compared to other foreign countries. However, we have still taken steps towards informing our students about such issues. We provide on-campus counselling services with qualified professionals to offer emotional support and guidance, conduct awareness campaigns to reduce the gap around mental health issues and promote open conversations. We also organise workshops and seminars to educate students, faculty, and staff about mental health and well-being and provide students with free classes for yoga and meditation.

What do you think sets your institution apart from other colleges and universities and how do you communicate that unique value proportion to students and other stakeholders?

There are a lot of colleges in this area but a few key points set our college apart. We try to provide unique programs and courses that set the institution apart from others. We do so by showcasing the expertise and achievements of our faculty members. Our college facilities provide students with exceptional learning experiences. We also have good placement records for big MNCs and companies. A unique value proposition we bring to our students and stakeholders involves regular communication and engagement. We have developed a user-friendly website that clearly articulates the institution's unique features. We also use social media platforms to share updates, achievements, and stories. Also, regularly publishing newsletters or magazines that feature institutional achievements and student accomplishments is an easy and good way to provide this information to the students and stakeholders.

What advice would you give to someone who is interested in pursuing a career in higher education administration and how do you see the field evolving in the years to come?

My advice to someone who is interested in pursuing a career in higher education administration would be to first obtain a relevant degree in education administration, higher education leadership, or a related field and to seek internships or entry-level positions in higher education institutions so that they may get some practical experience on how administration is done. The person should connect with professionals in the field, including administrators, faculty, and other stakeholders. Also, this field requires a lot of communication so the person should have good verbal as well as written skills. They can also attend workshops or training programs on leadership and higher education administration. As for the future of higher education administration, some points can help this field evolve, like continued integration of technology in administrative processes, teaching, and learning, evolving with the new generation of students, avoiding the generation gap, understanding the needs of students and providing them with a good standard of education and facilities. We also need to have collaborations with companies and other colleges to learn more about the outside market and develop your institution in such a manner that people will be interested in working in the college administration.