Dr. Namit Gupta is the Professor of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Director of Shri Vaishnav Institute of Technology & Science, and Dean of - Faculty of Engineering & Architecture, Shri Vaishnav Vidyapeeth Vishwavidyalaya, Indore. His areas of research are Quantum Computing, Embedded Systems, Spintronics, 5G Communication Systems, etc. Dr. Gupta has done his B.Tech in Electronics and Communication and M.Tech in Embedded Systems from DAVV Indore. He has done his Ph.D. in Quantum Cellular automata-based design from DAVV Indore. He has published and presented more than 50 research papers in various National and International Journals and Conferences. Dr. Namit Gupta has recently visited St.Cloud State University, Minnesota USA as an exchange faculty under the faculty exchange program. He was there for 3-weeks and has taken special sessions on Embedded Systems, IoT, Artificial Intelligence, and its applications for the Master’s degree students of SCSU. He has been awarded one patent in his name. Four candidates have been awarded Ph.D. under his supervision and presently 5 other scholars are pursuing Ph.D. under his supervision.

SHRI VAISHNAV VIDYAPEETH VISHWAVIDYALAYA

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

To begin, my experience has been wonderful. I have been working at this institute for the past 25 years. Previously, it was an engineering college popularly known as SVITS. Since 2015, we have transitioned into a university and are now known as Shri Vaishnav Vidyapeeth Vishwavidyalaya. The institute has always had a vision and mission of imparting quality education to the students. It is a progressive and student-friendly institution, with hardworking teachers who receive regular updates to ensure that the curriculum is up-to-date. The goal is to prepare students to become highly competent candidates for the industry. In my experience, what keeps me connected is the passion to teach and the desire to deliver quality education. These two factors are crucial in binding any teacher with their students. For every teacher, these elements are the most important. Without passion, no job can progress successfully. Therefore, having a passion for teaching and the desire to deliver quality education is essential for a teacher to be successful in the education sector.

What is your philosophy of leadership?

Honesty, transparency, fairness, endurance, and experience – these values are indeed crucial. These are significant aspects that form the foundation of effective leadership. A philosophy based on these principles is immensely valuable. I am currently under a case, and I am aware that a shift from fair practices can turn into bad practices. The concept of karma reinforces the importance of maintaining integrity in all actions. This is also one very important reason why I find myself connected with my institute. In my 24-25 years of tenure in this institute, I have observed that it is one of the fairest institutions, consistently following fair practices. Thus, honesty, transparency, fairness, endurance, and excellence are my five mantras, constituting the philosophy of leadership.

What are the challenges faced by you as the director of the Institute?

Challenges abound as the times change, and so do the students. When I joined this institute 20 or 25 years ago, the student mindset was different, and the corporate and industrial landscape in the country was also distinct. Job roles and opportunities for students have evolved significantly over the years, leading to differences in packages, salaries, and lifestyles. In the current era of fast-flowing information, every student has a mobile device, which keeps them fully updated with various types of information, both good and bad. Navigating this fast-paced information technology world poses a significant challenge in keeping students positively connected with the institute. Despite the constant changes, the essence of education remains crucial. The foundational elements, such as quality teaching and learning, teamwork, and leadership qualities, are integral to a student's growth. These aspects are cultivated through academic, co-curricular, and extra-curricular activities, contributing to the overall development that cannot be solely acquired through internet-based learning. As a director and dean, the challenge I face with the current generation, often referred to as the Zenji generation, is to maintain a positive connection between these students and the institute. Despite the hurdles, we are successfully addressing this challenge, ensuring that we impart quality education to them.

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How does the curriculum of your institute ensure best practices?

In our institute, we have always prioritized staying aligned with industry requirements. Regardless of the field of education, be it engineering, management, science, agriculture, or architecture, our focus has consistently been on providing quality education to our students. The challenge lies in the ever-changing landscape of industry requirements, and while traditional universities may have had slow curriculum updates in the past, we have adopted a best practice of maintaining an industry-ready curriculum. As one of the first universities in Madhya Pradesh, we have implemented the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in private universities. Embracing the shift towards more student-centric education, we are aligning our teaching methods accordingly. A noteworthy practice in our university involves running collaborative programs with industry giants such as Tata Power, Tata Consultancy, IBM, Microsoft, Google, and Red Hat. These collaborative courses directly prepare our students to be industry-ready upon graduation. Regularly updating our curriculum is a critical aspect of our educational approach. Under the new education policy, regulatory bodies like the UGC emphasize the importance of MOOCs (Massive Online Open Access Courses). In our university, we have not only recognized the significance of MOOCs but have also made them mandatory. Engineering and other students are required to earn credits through MOOCs during their 3-to 4 years of tenure, ensuring they stay current with the demands of today's rapidly evolving educational landscape.

What are your roles and responsibilities?

My primary role is centered around teaching and learning—I am fundamentally a teacher. The core responsibilities of a teacher encompass teaching, learning, and research. However, at the institute and university levels, additional responsibilities are assigned. Currently, I also serve as the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture. In addition to this role, I am tasked with overseeing the Entrepreneurship Development Cell of the university, among other responsibilities. Despite these various roles, the essence of our position remains rooted in the fundamental role of a teacher.

What is the top priority of your institute in the upcoming years?

The top priority is unquestionably to impart quality education, to provide excellent education, and to produce outstanding students who can contribute to the enhancement of our country, society, and institution. This is our foremost goal—to offer the best possible education. As teachers, we are fundamentally educators. Our core purpose, aim, and priority revolves around teaching our students. This involves academic instruction as well as fostering co-curricular, leadership, and team-building qualities in our students. Our paramount focus is on imparting the highest quality education possible.

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

 I have one suggestion to offer, and it is a timeless piece of advice: there is no substitute for hard work. This may sound like a conventional statement, but its importance remains undiminished even in today's fast-paced world. In our current times, students are inundated with information, and the desire for quick results is natural. However, hard work remains the key to achieving any goal. For the youth of today, I emphasize that there are no shortcuts to hard work. While traditional career paths in fields such as engineering, medicine, or civil services were prevalent in the past, the contemporary landscape has evolved significantly. Technological advancements, the internet, and the growth of information technology have expanded job opportunities across various domains. Today, careers in commerce, arts, psychology, and agriculture offer numerous possibilities. With ongoing technological developments and advancements, even agriculture has undergone significant changes. The key takeaway is to embrace hard work and dismiss the allure of shortcuts. In a world filled with conveniences, success still hinges on the dedication and effort put into one's endeavors.