Dr. V. Vijayalakshmi is currently serving as the Dean of Commerce at Kovai Kalaimagal College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore. Dr. V. Vijayalakshmi is an accomplished academician and currently serves as the Dean of Commerce and an Associate Professor at the Department of Commerce at Kovai Kalaimagal College of Arts and Science, located in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. She holds an extensive educational background, including an M.Com. (Master of Commerce), M.Ed. (Master of Education), PGDCA (Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Applications), M.Phil. (Master of Philosophy), and Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) degrees.

Dr. Vijayalakshmi completed her Ph.D. in Commerce from Bharathiar University in 2010. Before that, she obtained her M.Phil. degree in Commerce from Madurai Kamaraj University in 2004. She also holds a postgraduate degree in Commerce from Madurai Kamaraj University, which she obtained in 1992, and an undergraduate degree in Commerce from the same university, acquired in 1990.

With a specialization in Commerce and Human resources, Dr. Vijayalakshmi has extensive teaching experience of 26 years at the undergraduate level, 17 years at the postgraduate level, and 15 years of research experience.

Kovai Kalaimagal College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore

What inspired you to pursue a career in higher education administration, and what drew you to your current role as an Dean? 

I have always aspired to become a teacher and help students overcome their obstacles. Being a dean of the department provides an opportunity to interact with a large group of students and highly qualified professionals, identify loopholes, rectify them, and bridge the gap between management and students.

What do you see as the biggest challenges facing higher education today, and how do you think your institution is addressing those challenges? 

Since there is wide access to books and other materials, there is limited interaction between students and teachers, and students from rural backgrounds find it difficult to cope with technology. Our institution provides a platform to educate them about new technology through seminars conducted by professionals.

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? 

Our institution collects a fee which is affordable and management is very kind. Our institution values the students more than the marks. 

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

The primary responsibility is to have control over the overall activities of the department and supervise them. To ensure that the faculties are assigned work as per their capabilities to encourage the students to participate in competitions. Time management is the key to balancing the job. As I take classes, I allocate a few hours for them, while I do other work the rest of the time. 

How do you approach decision-making in your role and how do you balance the needs of different stakeholders when making difficult decisions? 

My approach while making decisions is to analyze the situation by keeping things simple and deciding things which need to be done and also make decisions in the interest of the institution. 

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

Focus on building a long-term career for themselves and don’t spend more time on social media. Be more conscious of the goals and not of the likes and comments.

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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? 

Our institution conducts compulsory yoga classes for the students, both theoretically and practically. We also encourage the students to come to us personally and interact with us about their problems.

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? 

I advise the team to choose the field according to their wishes and explore it. Their interest should not end once their education is complete; they should keep updated about the changes happening in that field and evolve.

What new initiatives and collaborations has the University established with Industry Leaders to promote industry-specific courses? 

Universities have signed memoranda of understanding (MOU) with industries to provide training and internships and give them relevant industry exposure.