Ms. Tanuja Shankar is the Director of the International School of Media and Entertainment Studies. She holds a bachelor’s degree and an MA in English. Following this, she earned a PG Diploma in Mass Communication and Journalism. She started working as a lecturer of radio and TV journalism and then worked on television channels such as Zee TV, NDTV Imagine, Star Plus, BAG Films, etc.

Ms. Shankar also worked as the Cultural Director for the Embassy of India in Budapest before joining ISOMES in 2022. She has been felicitated by the parliamentarian Najma Heptullah for the documentary “Azad Desh Ke Ghulam Log” on statehood issues concerning Kashmiri refugees and has received an award for the documentary “Jhini Jhini Bini Chadariya” on silk farming, awarded at TOFF Film Festival.

ISOMES Noida

As the college Director, what is your vision and long-term goals for the college? How do you plan to lead the college towards achieving those goals?

As a director, my vision is to train students as per industry standards, make sure they are up to the mark, and get suitable placements. I wish to build the overall personality of all my students in such a way that they are ready to fight and win in every challenge of their lives, professionally or personally.

Could you provide an overview of the college's strategic initiatives or key projects that are currently in progress or planned for the future?

ISOMES boasts 20 years of excellence, and till now, thousands of students have graduated and been placed at key media houses and channels in India. What is important now is to give a world view to the students, and for that, we have plans to provide 360-degree exposure in all aspects, from a journalistic point of view to media management and development sectors. In the future, we plan to have some major associations with top NGOs and ministries like Environment, Fieldwork, and Research Projects, besides regular academic activities. We also plan to publish a media handbook for students, in which notable names in the industry will provide enlightening articles.

How do you ensure effective communication and collaboration among various departments and stakeholders within the college?

ISOMES has created a very open and transparent communication methodology where students and faculty interact regularly through one-to-one interactions, group discussions, and counseling to solve all their issues. Not only this, but we have also created societies or clubs like Film Appreciation, Storytelling, Dramatic Society, and Creative Society, which enable students to integrate properly with other batches and teams and also contribute to the creative and academic growth of all. We also integrate the students through several common activities, projects, and festivals, like the well-known fest MANTHAN, where students collaborate with each other and connect with students from other colleges.

What measures or strategies are in place to foster a supportive and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff?

I believe transparency is the key to solving all issues and creating a healthy atmosphere. ISOMES has a very transparent environment that is friendly yet disciplined. All teachers interact with each other to foster betterment in curricula, methodology, and any other endeavors that they want to suggest or take up. This also facilitates the students' learning of new and novel elements related to their course through brainstorming, practicals, and a constant give-and-take of ideas between students and faculty. For example, if a group of students wants to do a special news bulletin on a topical subject with support from the institute, the faculty members facilitate it and guide them to do it on their own.

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How do you prioritize and allocate resources within the college to support academic programs, research, and infrastructure development?

We make an annual plan of action, which includes all events and resources that are to be allocated as per the budget for the upcoming academic year. We also periodically analyze and upgrade the budget in tune with the management.

What steps have been taken to enhance the college's reputation and standing in the academic community? How do you plan to further strengthen the college's position in the future?

ISOMES is a brand that is associated with one of the leading media brands in India, BAG Films and Media Ltd., and the News24 Network, which has several television and digital channels. We maintain this branding and make sure that the academic and professional quality of this brand is maintained through students’ performances, placements, and overall discipline. We believe that our assets are the students; hence, we make sure to give quality students to the industry, and they, in turn, become our ambassadors and enhance our reputation.

What role does innovation and technology play in the college's educational offerings and administrative processes? Can you provide examples of recent technological advancements implemented at the college?

The media is constantly innovating and upgrading in terms of technology. We believe in industry-integrated training for our students; hence, we follow the trends in the market and provide the latest technology and training to the students. Our faculty also keeps abreast of the latest trends and provides similar enhanced training. We have the latest editing software, HD cameras, Chroma studios, and graphics software. We also give practical training and internships at the News24 television studios and newsrooms, thus bringing the latest technology to the hands of each student.

How does the college engage with industry partners and employers to ensure that the curriculum remains relevant and aligned with the needs of the job market?

Although we follow the university syllabi for our BAJMC and MAJMC students, it is in line with the latest trends and technology in the media industry. We do give them 60% practicals, which focus on making the students industry-oriented. The infrastructure and training methodology make sure that students learn all the nuances of the news and entertainment industries where they will eventually work.

What strategies or initiatives are in place to promote faculty development and research activities within the college?

We encourage all media faculty to write papers and blogs for the ISOMES website as well as for the News24 website. They also attend media conferences to help them in their personal and academic development. We are planning a Media Handbook that will be created and conceptualized by the academic team, because of which we foresee much better development of the faculty in the future. Last but not least, all faculty are deeply involved in students' projects like shooting, editing, content creation, making films and documentaries, preparing newspapers, blogs, journals, radio jingles, spots, and plays, and they assist in their dissertations.

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How does the college prioritize student support services, such as career counseling, mental health resources, and extracurricular activities?

We have a dedicated career and placement cell, which senior members of the ISOMES team look after. We hold regular campus placements through this team. Regular one-on-one and group counseling is done to solve students' stress and interpersonal issues. ISOMES also, through weekly activities, interacts with students and addresses their problems. The team organizes special seminars and webinars with experts from different fields to help students get over their doubts and issues.

We also invite experts from outside to conduct value education, spiritual, and meditative seminars. In terms of co-curricular activities, we also hold special events and celebrate festivals like Gandhi Jayanti, Holi, Diwali, Saraswati Puja, and weekly film appreciation and theatre workshops.