Professor, Dr. K. N. Guruprasad is currently working as Director, Shri Vaishnav Institute of Science, Shri Vaishnav Vidyapeeth Vishwavidyalaya, Indore. He works in Plant Science and specializes in Photobiology and Magneto-biology. He has an experience of teaching and researching in Life Science of over thirty-five years. He was a Professor and Head of the Life Science Department of Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore. He has supervised the work of twenty-five research students who have worked under him to obtain their Ph.D. degrees. He has been the Principal Investigator of various research projects funded by UGC, CSIR, DST, ICAR, BRNS, MPCST, and BASF India. He has worked as a Visiting Scientist at Kobe University, Japan, and Moscow University, Russia. He has over eighty-five research papers published in research journals of National and International repute.

SHRI VAISHNAV VIDYAPEETH VISHWAVIDYALAYA

What keeps you connected with the education sector and how has your experience been with the institute?

I joined this institute about six years ago. Before that, I had been working as a professor of Life Science at DAVV for an extended period, totalling three decades. Since joining this institute, I have been overseeing all the Science departments, whereas, at DAVV, I was exclusively focused on Life Science.

What is your philosophy of leadership?

My philosophy of leadership revolves around the belief that leadership does not entail treating others only as colleagues. A leader is not someone who merely directs others but works in collaboration and builds a team. Team members need to perceive the leader as an integral part of the team. Therefore, I do not endorse the separation of a leader from the team. A leader is just one component of the team and may possess more experience or expertise, distinguishing them from other members. This distinction can be attributed to the leader's experience or expertise, and it remains the only dissimilarity between the leader and other team members. Otherwise, everyone is considered a part of the team. This aligns with my concept of leadership. Therefore, the leader serves as a guide and functions as a team member. This approach emphasizes the need for a cooperative dynamic among all team members, including the leader. While the leader may bear different responsibilities compared to other team members, they are still an integral part of the team.

What are your roles and responsibilities?

In this institute, I hold the position of Director. The Vaishnav Institute of Science encompasses various science departments, with my primary focus being on Biotechnology. Biotechnology serves as my primary area of expertise. Additionally, the institute includes departments in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, covering various domains of science. Apart from my role at the Shri Vaishnav Institute of Science, I also oversee two other affiliated institutes. One of these is the Institute for Forensic Science, which operates independently. The second institute is the Institute of Agriculture Science.

My responsibilities encompass both teaching and research, constituting the fundamental aspects of my role as a professor.

What are the challenges faced by you as the director?

As a director, one of my responsibilities is to promote research across all branches of science. Given the limited availability of research funding, we are reliant on government funding agencies for support, and the competition for such funding is intense. This stands as a significant challenge, as research in science is not possible without adequate funding. Despite the challenges, we have achieved some success, securing approximately 1.5 crores in funds from various agencies for eight research projects. These projects are in the field of Biotechnology, Physics and Mathematics. However, the obtained funds are insufficient to meet our research needs, and addressing this challenge remains a priority. Consequently, we are exerting concerted efforts to develop more robust projects, aiming to enhance our chances of securing additional funding.

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What is the top priority of the Institute in the upcoming years?

As an educational institute, our primary focus is on the successful implementation of the new education policy, which we initiated two years ago. The new education policy of 2020 has been in effect at our university for the past two years. To effectively implement this policy, significant investments in infrastructure are necessary, especially given the shift from the conventional teaching methods that we have been employing for the past few decades. The new education policy emphasizes providing more opportunities for projects, vocational training, and integrating practical components into courses. It encourages students to experiment with their ideas. In line with this vision, upgrading and developing laboratories are essential. These laboratories should be equipped to support independent student work and experimentation.

What do you think is the greatest strength of your institute?

The greatest strength of this institute lies in its diversity. For instance, under the new education policy, students have the flexibility to choose subjects beyond the major, which they pursue for their careers. Additionally, based on their aptitude, students can explore subjects from various domains. Our university offers a multitude of departments, allowing students in science to select generic electives from domains such as Social Sciences, Engineering, Management, and Commerce. The unique advantage we have is the coexistence of all these departments on the same campus, providing unparalleled mobility. Unlike many other institutes, our students have the freedom to choose subjects of their interest easily due to the accessibility of diverse departments. This positions us well to cater to the diverse interests of students, particularly considering the new education policy, making it a significant strength of our institute.

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

I would like to suggest to the youngsters: when seeking jobs or developing their ideas, they should consider the conditions of our own country. Their aspirations should extend beyond the pursuit of monetary gain; rather, they should focus on how they can best serve the country and contribute to our society. Additionally, their goals should not solely revolve around leaving the country for better opportunities elsewhere. Choosing a career based solely on financial prospects is not advisable because money alone cannot guarantee satisfaction. Numerous non-measurable factors contribute to fulfilment, stemming from one's thoughts and understanding. I hope that the younger generation will cultivate a broad mentality and depth of thinking before embarking on their careers.