Dr Rekha Vig is currently serving as the Deputy Dean IQAC and as a Professor in the CSE Department at The NorthCap University. She has a total academic experience of over 25 years and industry experience of 2 years. Prior to her current assignment, she was managing the dean’s office at NCU as Deputy Dean of Academics. She completed her PhD from NMIMS University, Mumbai in 2014 in the area of hand-based biometrics. Her subject area of interest is signal processing, image processing, biomedical signal processing, and communication systems. She has worked on the live Project ‘Bharatiya AFIS’ at CDAC, Mumbai. 

Dr Vig is currently guiding 6 PhD scholars in signal, image, and speech processing subjects. Her work has been featured in more than 80 papers in international journals and conferences. Besides attending various conference sessions, she has also received the best paper award for her research work. Dr Rekha has convened two FDPs on online education and has been instrumental in implementing online teaching-learning systems at the university.

The NorthCap University

You have held key positions at education institutes throughout your professional career. What are the key factors that keep you connected with the education sector?

My experience in educational institutions has been quite diverse and vast. I have worked in various universities across India in different departments like Electronics and Communications, IT, Computer Science and Electrical at the School of Engineering. This has given me exposure to a variety of subjects, students, work philosophies, systems, processes and cultures. However, what has always stayed with me and kept me connected with the education sector is the nobility of this profession and the ability and opportunities it has given me to give and grow. Knowledge is the best form of giving and I get immense satisfaction when the outcomes are in the form of happy and successful students paying the respect back to me. At NorthCap University, the Alumni remain connected with us and contribute immensely towards its growth.

Being the Dy. Dean of The NorthCap University, what is your philosophy of leadership? How would you describe your leadership style?

I have had the opportunity to hold various leadership positions at NorthCap University. Earlier, as the Deputy Dean for Academics, I was managing the academic office and now as Deputy Dean of IQAC, I am handling the accreditations, rankings and quality assurance cell. Apart from this, I have also managed international collaborations with Arizona State University, USA. I believe leaders are given higher positions so that they can see the larger picture and drive the institute towards achieving its objectives. I am a firm believer in transformational leadership which focuses on clear communication, goal setting and employee motivation. A transformational leader is driven by a commitment to the organization’s objectives and brings out the best in each employee who can handle many delegated tasks without constant supervision. 

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 in your university?

The Indian education system is continuously evolving and with NEP2020 being implemented rigorously by educational institutes, students are being offered flexibility, and diversity, have multiple opportunities and options for higher education in India. At present, a bouquet of courses, skills, extracurricular, co-curricular, experiential and extension activities with a blend of innovation, critical thinking and professional growth are being offered by NorthCap University. Northcap’s multidisciplinary programmes are at par with international standards. 

Having real-world experience is a crucial component of our approach to education. The NorthCap University has a beautiful, green and clean campus located near the business hub of Gurugram, state-of-the-art infrastructure including an auditorium, a large playground, sports facilities, a gym, canteens, smart classrooms, a design centre, ICT classrooms, iMac and other high-end labs and hostel facilities for boys and girls. We are proud to be consistently ranked among the premier institutions of higher education in North India.

How does the curriculum of The NorthCap University ensure the best practice of industry?

Northcap University commits to acting as a bridge between academia and industry to transform our students into leaders to be able to solve the problems of today and tomorrow. Besides covering the course curriculum, regular expert interactions, hosting placement partners, facing real-life challenges, and completing cutting-edge research projects are a must for a well-rounded quality education. 

We ensure that the young minds at our university are doing far more than merely building conventional products and services through age-old classroom education methods. We have various departments at NCU that have collaborated with reputed government and private organizations including ISRO, NTRO, Gemini Solutions, Grant Thornton, STPI, Universal Technical Solutions (UTS), Danalitics Pvt. Ltd., XR Central, 360-degree cloud Pvt. Ltd., Ecara Solutions, Ansyst, PAC Security and many more. Internships and projects are also an integral and mandatory part of the curriculum.

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

The university believes in a firm ethos of equal opportunities for all and does not differentiate between race, region, or economic background when it comes to academics, extracurricular activities, and placements. In that sense, it provides a very conducive and cordial environment to all newcomers, who appreciate the level playing field. This way, the students can blend well into the NCU family. Furthermore, there are no sections, areas or facilities reserved for a particular geographic demography or cultural and economic background, which promotes a very non-judgmental and welcoming environment. However, to conjoin merit and economic backgrounds, the university does facilitate scholarships to a limited number of meritorious girl students from economically weaker backgrounds who are pursuing STEM education with full fee refunds.

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

Research and Innovation are pillars of any reputed university. The NorthCap University strives to provide the necessary facilities and resources to support the faculty and students' research initiatives. The motive behind the research competencies is to promote a culture of research excellence. Engagement with the industry is crucial to understand the needs of the industry, leverage their expertise, access their data, and attract funding to build solutions that cater to the needs of the market. NorthCap University will continue to adapt to the dynamic technological changes of industry in its curriculum. 

NorthCap University will continue its work for community development that create societal impact given the presence of multiple disciplines and a strong student base. Since universities are essential institutional actors in national innovation systems, we are undergoing a significant transition with a focus on future disruptive technologies with the goal of becoming more knowledgeable, flexible, transparent, and competitive.

What would you like people to know about your university they may not know?

There are multiple hidden gems at NorthCap University. One of the most crucial aspects is the mentorship that our faculty provides to our students. Guidance on academic, professional, and even personal fronts is offered to students to make their journey in learning smooth. Another important fact is the university’s adherence to discipline, regulations and systems that inculcate the required and essential life skills in students they need to succeed in the outside world.

What do you see as NorthCap University’s greatest strengths?

The faculty at NCU focuses on the comprehensive education and development of the students that assimilates the intellectual development of the students along with societal, emotional and ethical development. This is achieved through multiple strategies, including adopting innovative teaching pedagogies, enriched curriculums as per market requirements, and technology-supplemented student-friendly content delivery methodologies.

To facilitate international collaborative research and co-teaching opportunities by international faculties and enrich the curriculum to global standards and student-faculty exchange programs, NCU has academic collaborations with various reputed international Universities and national agencies. We also enable our students to broaden their horizons intellectually by providing them with world-class facilities and infrastructure and giving them opportunities to serve society through community services under various clubs and societies.

What are some plans that you’re currently (or will be) designing for The NorthCap University international affairs and/or students?

The International Relations Office (IRO) connects NorthCap University, Gurugram with the rest of the world, erasing physical barriers to education and bridging geographical divides. By creating mutually advantageous international collaborations with other colleges and organizations around the world, the IRO assists NCU in becoming a significant player on the global stage. Additionally, it strives to assist NCU academics, students, and professors who are studying, working, or teaching overseas. 

Our university works on the development of a multicultural community of students and staff, preparing its students for global political and social environments, and the development of international alliances in research, education and business. Our institution is achieving the following by focusing on the globalization of its offerings such as international research and development projects, student exchange and faculty mobility, development of joint and double degrees with foreign universities, improving diversity by enrolling foreign students and researchers, co-teaching, access to digital content of foreign universities, joint conferences and research publications, knowledge sharing and creation, credit transfer.

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Any suggestions you would like to give to the current youth and the aspiring students?

The current generation of students and youth have tremendous exposure and various options for learning, career paths and their development. However, this could also have a negative connotation to it. They could become more confused, trying to become a jack of all trades and eventually lose their focus. Hence, it is very important that the students should remain focused and retain their passion for what they really want to do in life. Developing skills and traits like willingness to constantly learn in life, contributing and giving back to society and being themselves and thinking differently will take them a long way. Try to match the university to you and not yourself to the university. Check what the university offers and if it fits your personality and dreams, go for it.