Prof. Dr. Raghvendra Sharma is the Dean and Program Head at IBS Dehradun. He acquired his PhD from ICFAI Dehradun Dr. Sharma has a substantially progressive record of publications in ABDC and Scopus-indexed academic journals of international repute. He is committed to helping management students to unfold their latent potential in their studies and entrepreneurial initiatives. He has been invited by the University of Economics and Law to deliver courses on International Marketing, and Organizational Behavior. Dr. Sharma has been conferred with the IBSAF Best Teacher Award for Institution Building, 2022

IBS Dehradun

What is that one thing that made you excited and be a part of IBS and share your experience of 14+ journey in IBS?

The values ‘innovation’ and ‘empowerment’ are the key elements that encouraged me to be a part of this very esteemed academic institution. IBS focuses on innovation in education and empowers academicians to experiment. This innovation and empowerment led to creating an enabling and learner-centric environment in the classes. It also helps in unleashing the latent potential of learners. IBS also uses case-based pedagogy which allows students to look at business problems from multi-dimensions, consequently, enabling them to find rational solutions to these business challenges. 

You have held key positions is various organisations, What motivated you to pursue a career in academia and leadership in management ?

There is a saying, ‘Teaching’ is the mother of all professions, I am pleased and honored to be a part of academia. It gives me a deep sense of active and meaningful involvement in the endeavour of nation-building. As an academician, you discover, rediscover, and rejuvenate yourself with every incoming batch of students. Someone in the education sector can be instrumental in bringing socio-economic changes. That is the biggest strength of the education sector. An academician has the greatest impact on the society. 

Check ICFAI Business School - [IBS], Dehradun - Course & Fees Details

As a Program head of - IBS School of Business, what do you feel is the USP or what are the differentiating factors that make IBS stand out from other Business schools?

Industry-relevant curriculum, use of case-based pedagogy in management education, adoption of a Learner-centric approach, and rigorous and monitored internship program are the distinguishing factors that provide IBS with a unique status in academia. The corporate sector has very specific demands at the present time, and the above-mentioned progressive initiatives transform students into valuable resource for the corporate.

What steps would you take to ensure that the business school's curriculum remains relevant, aligns with industry demands, and prepares students for successful careers?

At IBS, continuous efforts are made to update the curriculum. Industry demands can only be assessed through linkage with it. IBS invites corporate leaders, not only to deliver expert talks but also to review the curriculum. IBS connects with the industry on various platforms. I must share, the internship program at IBS is jointly supervised by faculty and corporate mentors. Here, faculty mentors are connected to these company mentors and come to know about the corporate expectations of the students. This first-hand information is used to design, redesign, and update the curriculum. Moreover, IBS has developed a large alumni base over a period of time. A majority of these alumni are working in leadership positions in prestigious organizations across the globe. IBS also connects with these alumni to collect relevant inputs to enrich its curriculum.

How would you engage with faculty to promote research excellence, encourage innovation in teaching, and support their professional development?

To ensure a better research output, enabling research ecosystem needs to be developed. In the present scenario, the quality of education cannot be improved if it is not based on research. Research is possible only when the faculty resource is developed. We, at IBS, have created a research ecosystem. Our faculty members are connected with the industry. The inputs from their industry counterparts provide a basis for application-oriented management research and encourage faculty members to find rational solutions to business problems. Faculty members at IBS integrate these research-based innovative findings into their academic deliberations. Also, faculty members are sent to participate in national and international conferences, seminars, workshops and FDPs to update themselves about the latest developments in the field of management research.

Check IBS Dehradun Admission 2023: Dates, Courses, Eligibility, Selection Criteria

How do you plan to leverage technology and online platforms to enhance the delivery of business education and adapt to changing educational landscapes?

Technology is the key to success in the present times. The use of ICT has already been made a part of academic delivery at IBS. We also have developed a customized portal called ‘Student Information System’ which is used to interact with students. It allows faculty and students to interact on a digital platform that also increases the frontiers of learning. Learning is not restricted to classrooms only. Apart from this, students are also trained in the latest and relevant software and tools that are used by the industry. 

What are the challenging parts of being in the Program head of business school role and how do you handle them?

One of the big challenges in front of me as a program head is dealing with the decreasing attention span of students in the classes. Today’s students have alternative sources of information which they think is knowledge but technology is a double-edged sword. We must use it carefully. Moreover, the Indian economy is changing at a faster rate and so are the requirements of the industry. Coping with these changes is not an easy task, particularly without ensuring the focus of learners on learning. We use a multi-focused approach to deal with this challenge. We train our faculty members to adapt to the new demands and use the pedagogy mentioned earlier. 

Can you describe What is the significance and support IBS provides for entrepreneurship and innovation?

Entrepreneurship is the buzzword today. It is important for any society to grow as a system. Entrepreneurship is also emphasized at IBS. I am pleased to share that many of our students have become successful entrepreneurs. These students get their entrepreneurial ideas and guidance from the faculty members. Many of such ideas have huge potential for scaling up. We provide them with infrastructure support and professional guidance. 

Check IBS Dehradun Placement 2023: Average Package: INR 6.39 LPA & Highest Package: INR 23 LPA

How do you envision the role of the Program head in shaping the strategic direction and growth of IBS Business School?

The academic leadership of a management institution like IBS has a big responsibility. We need to ensure the availability of quality-conscious management professionals and maintain high standards of business ethics. Due to cut-throat competition, organizations often compromise with the quality and ethical aspects of the businesses. Organizations take all resources from society, hence, it is the responsibility of these business enterprises to give it back to society. Pursuance of ethical practices can provide sustainable businesses and, consequently, sustainable development. As a program head, I have always focused on achieving sustainable development goals. This is made possible through adopting a stakeholder approach. We set high standards in management education and believe in the all-inclusive concept of growth wherein all stakeholders are mutually benefitted.