Professor Shiv Kumar Sahdev is the Principal at Shivaji College. He completed his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from the University of Delhi and followed them up with a PhD as well.

Professor Sahdev has worked in many positions in his entire career. He has worked as an Assistant at the Public Informatics Office, NCC Office, Nodal Officer, Academic Coordinator, as Vice Principal, and now as the Principal of Shivaji College. He is an active participant in research, and he has published 21 papers in national and international journals.

Furthermore, Professor Sahdev regularly attends conferences and workshops in his field. He has supervised three M.Phil students but was recognized for his efforts when he received the Senior Research Fellowship in Mathematics from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.

Shivaji College

What motivated you to choose a path in higher education administration, and what attracted you to your current position as a principal?

Being an administrator in higher education, and particularly as a principal, there are many responsibilities and rewards. I chose this path to take initiative in the decision-making processes and implementation of transformative policies in higher education. It is only with visionary educational policies that a conducive environment can be created for teaching and learning. Another important factor that motivated me was the need for intellectual stimulation and critical thinking among students in higher education. As an administrator, I continuously engage in and institute mechanisms for enhancing the skills, research aptitude, and intellectual acumen of the students.

What's your vision for the college?

I want to see my college touch new heights in terms of academic excellence, networking and collaboration, diversity, inclusiveness, innovation, entrepreneurial initiatives, research facilities, and public perception. By and large, my vision for Shivaji College is to be a seat of holistic learning and to prepare students for a fast and ever-changing world in terms of skills, knowledge, and adaptability. Having said this, the ultimate goal of any Principal will be to achieve new heights in national and global rankings and accreditations, which is what I aim for as well.

How do you tend to establish a relation with the students being the principal of the university? How do you make yourself available to them?

As the Principal of the college, I ensure that I keep a close connection with students during their stay there. I encourage regular communication with students by conducting routine meetings with each class across the departments. Students are also free to send emails to the Principal, to which I promptly respond, regarding any concerns and suggestions. I have an open-door policy: my doors are always open to them for walk-in communication.

I also keep in close touch with the alumni of the college. We host alumni meetings every year, which provides a platform for me as well as the staff to engage with the alumni of our institution. I have also set up a panel of Academic Coordinators, a Students’ Advisory Committee, and a Grievance Cell that look into the academic and other requirements of the students. Besides approaching me, students are also guided to the coordinators of these respective committees, who assist them in addressing their concerns.

What advice would you offer to the present-day youth and aspiring students?

I do want to advise the present-day youth to prepare for the changing times. First and foremost, believe in yourself, and nothing will be impossible. Secondly, do not be afraid of taking risks and, more importantly, embrace failure gracefully and meaningfully. Of course, one learns best from one’s failures. Do not shy away from building networks and establishing linkages. Outreach and networking are as important as your knowledge, skills, and experience. Finally, be open-minded and forthcoming in your attitude toward life and work. Take it as a long-term relationship with meaningful learning.

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What specific measures or programs has your institution implemented to address the increasing mental health issues and stress among today’s youth?

The well-being of our students is of utmost importance to us. We have been paying particular attention to students’ mental health since the outbreak of the COVID pandemic. Several committees have been set up to reach out to students who show signs of isolation and distress. The NSS at Shivaji College organises several mental health and wellness programmes every year. In addition to this, the college has a mentor-mentee programme, wherein each teacher is assigned a group of 4-5 students from each semester. These mentors have routine meetings with their mentees to ensure that they are in a healthy space, both physically as well as mentally. Apart from this, the college also has a counselor who can be approached for one on one confidential sessions.

What are your primary responsibilities as a principal and how do you balance them with other aspects of your job?

As the Principal of the college, I am responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the college, ensuring that the college runs smoothly, and providing educational leadership to the students, faculty, and staff. My role includes setting academic goals and standards for the college, ensuring that these standards are met, and promoting a safe and positive learning environment for all students. I also play a critical role in the development and implementation of the college’s curriculum, policies, and procedures. I am passionate about education and committed to creating a positive and inclusive college culture that fosters academic excellence, personal growth, and lifelong learning. I discharge my duties in a balanced manner and always try to do my best for my college.

What differentiates your college from other institutions in terms of its unique attributes and offerings?

Shivaji College is a NAAC ‘A’ accredited college and has been awarded the Star College scheme. It has all the teaching-learning opportunities and facilities, infrastructure, and mechanisms second to none. What sets this college apart from its counterparts is the vibrant atmosphere of student engagement in extracurricular activities. There are more than 10 student societies that assist students in pursuing their professional goals in different arts fields like photography, public speaking, fashion, music, and dance.

The college believes in equity, diversity, and inclusiveness, and to this end, the college has a one-of-a-kind platform called the Center for Promotion of Inclusivity (CFPI), where programmes that orient the students toward a more sensitized, tolerant, and inclusive outlook and practices are organized. The college also hosts the Dr. Ambedkar Centre of Excellence (DACE), which was established by the Dr. Ambedkar Foundation, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. This centre provides free coaching to students from Scheduled Castes in their preparation for the civil services examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission.

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In your experience, what benefits students can gain from studying here in your institute?

Besides the robust academic and intellectual environment in Shivaji College, the institution also has several mechanisms and practices that strengthen the holistic development of students. Our college committees and student societies provide opportunities to hone public speaking and personality development, artistic acumen and individual talents, and leadership.

In addition to these opportunities, the college has platforms such as a mentor-mentee programme and one-one counseling by a college counselor for the general wellness of students. The college also has a WUS health centre that addresses the medical emergencies of students and also provides free consultations and medical benefits. There are also several merit-cum-means scholarships and rewards for deserving students.

How does the curriculum of your college ensure the best practices of industry?

As Shivaji College is a constituent college of the University of Delhi, we follow the curricula approved by the university. These curricula, across all disciplines, are designed to offer diverse, integral topics in each subject and, at the same time, inform students of the latest knowledge developments in the same. In addition to the core subjects of each discipline, the University has developed, under the framework of the New Education Policy 2020, curricula for interdisciplinary, skill enhancement, and value-added courses. All the students, apart from studying the core subjects, are mandated to study these courses that will prepare them for entrepreneurial initiatives, employability, leadership, community responsibility, and so on.