Dr.R.Sivasakthi, is working as a Professor and the Head of the Department of Pharmacy Practice at the Karpagam College of Pharmacy, Sulur. He graduated from the College of Pharmacy, SRIPMS, Coimbatore, and did his postgraduation from JSS College of Pharmacy, Ooty. He also completed his PhD in Pharmacy Practice from The Tamil Nadu Dr. M G R Medical University.

Dr. Shibsakthi has 12 years of teaching and six years of research experience in the field of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacokinetic studies. He has 35 publications in both national and international journals, with nine poster presentations. He has also participated in 42 seminars and conferences and has published two books for B.Pharm eighth sem and Pharm.D fifth year students, Pharmacovigilance and a textbook on clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacotherapeutic drug monitoring. He has vast experience in Pharmacovigilance and is a trained Pharmacovigilance Associate from PvPI, Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission, Ghaziabad. He is also an active member of many Professional bodies.

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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?

Besides having the motivation to teach and spread education among the younger generation, I also aspire to create a generation of experienced and well-taught pharmacy professionals. Being able to influence students to be more disciplined and have the ethical standards to be upstanding individuals in the industry and society incentivises me to keep going. My efforts also enable me to create research skills among the skills that will enable them to contribute to the industry. These factors want me to keep teaching my students.

Being the HOD of Pharmacy Practice at Karpagam of Pharmacy, what is your philosophy of leadership? How would you describe your leadership style?

My leadership style includes the components of love and unity. I work with everyone I am responsible for to be a leader and learn how to make their own decisions. My leadership style is to inspire fellow teachers and other stakeholders to possess discipline and punctuality in everything they do. I believe in teaching and leading my students to possess a fear of GOD where they also listen to and pay attention to their inner mind.

Being the HOD of Pharmacy Practice at Karpagam of Pharmacy how do you strategize about the key programs and plans for the marketing and administration of your school?

All marketing plans and programs that are formed for the college are done with the view to create excellent students who will further expand and take the institution’s name to higher levels. We plan to establish excellent teaching-learning facilities for all future generations of students. We also have plans to allow the students to be on par with the competition from other institutions.

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 institute?

The Indian education system is excellent and has been making strides in creating professionals and experts in their field. This is primarily because our students get to learn both the theory and practical portions of our subject curriculum. They get to explore their goals and learn under the direct supervision of teachers with periodic evaluation systems. Hence, students gain good knowledge and get full exposure to the practical aspects of the subjects.

How does the curriculum of Karpagam of Pharmacy ensure the best the practice of industry?

Our curriculum is the best for our student’s careers, as it provides both theory and practical knowledge. It is also updated regularly to keep up with the latest changes in the subjects. Students go through a mandatory internship period to practice the classroom material and get to interact with industry experts as well.

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

Our university treats all categories of students uniformly. We do not discriminate among applicants in terms of economic backgrounds or other aspects. We provide access to financial assistance and scholarships to students who need it, as well as on a merit basis for students who have scored well on their previous examinations. Students who lag behind in terms of communication and technical skills are provided extra training and classes as well.

What do you think your roles and responsibilities to Karpagam of Pharmacy and the students are?

My primary responsibility is to complete the syllabus with effective teaching methods. I try to always be there to answer my student’s queries and doubts regarding classes, careers or personal lives. My responsibility also extends to strictly evaluating the students and making them skilled personnel who will be able to effectively serve society one day.

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

Over the next decade, we will be working more towards collaborating with foreign universities. This will aid in student exchange programmes, research and knowledge exchange, along with giving our college a competitive edge over others. We will also be concentrating on organizing more conferences and seminars with experts from different fields to give our students knowledge on what to expect from the workspace. We will also improve our infrastructure and encourage students and faculty to engage more in research.

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

I would like people to know that our university provides career-oriented courses and preparation classes such as mock interviews, resume writing classes and skills grooming sessions. Our university also provides quality industry standard certificates that students can opt for in addition to the regular course curriculum. We also have a team of well-qualified and experienced faculty members who bring their experience in the field to make classes engaging and fun. We also possess modern and state-of-the-art sophisticated research instruments and facilities.

What do you see as Karpagam of Pharmacy’s greatest strengths?

Our students are definitely our strengths, along with our faculty members. They have years of industry and research experience as well which adds more to our courses. Our principal has put in efforts to build excellent infrastructure for our college that adds to providing our students with learning. We also receive constant support from the management to develop the institution and our stakeholders.

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What are some of the biggest challenges you see, both for higher education in general and for Karpagam of Pharmacy specifically?

Our biggest challenge is getting our students interested in learning advanced technologies. New technology will help them stand out from the competition and perform their jobs better. They are also not interested in taking part in or contributing to social services. These activities not only boost their resumes but also help them develop skills like empathy and leadership.

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

I advise students to maintain self-discipline in whatever they do. Set goals for yourself and show up every day to achieve those goals. Develop punctuality, as no one will wait for you and your career goals. Improve your learning abilities and keep learning always. This will help you stay sharp and be competitive.

What are some plans that you’re currently (or will be) designing for Karpagam of Pharmacy international affairs and/or students?

To support our international efforts, we will be making and creating more MoUs with foreign universities. This, we aim to facilitate the exchange of students and staff. Students will be able to complete a year or a semester abroad and faculty members will partake in research or higher education. We hope these efforts will boost admissions for us and help us provide a holistic education where our students are more universally thinking.

How do you tend to establish a healthy relationship and environment in Karpagam of Pharmacy?

Having healthy relationships in the college and among our stakeholders is vital for everyone’s success. To this end, we conduct cultural functions and sports events yearly allowing students and teacheras to bond with each other and participate in healthy competition. We also arrange for industrial visits and trips every year and arrange for yoga, meditation and moral education classes to supplement our education. We also involve the students in social activities and visit orphanages and old age homes.