Mrs. Kamna Michael is an Assistant Professor and the Head of the Department at XIDCOM. She holds a PGDM in Human Resource Management from Birla School of Management, Kolkata, a master's degree in Commerce and a bachelor’s degree in Education. Before joining XIDAS, she served as the HR Manager at JCCC of See Media Services Pvt. Ltd. She has over 15 years of experience in managing various subjects in HR and across several domains of Marketing. Mrs. Michael is also the Editor of XID Publications which consists of various bulletins, reports, and magazines and has various national and international publications to her credit.

Xavier Institute of Development Action and Studies (XIDAS)

Being a HOD of the Department, what are your roles and responsibilities towards the students?

The student's publications are the lifeline and heart of any academic institute. We established this in order to encourage them to write, develop their intellectual skills and become think tanks and proper professionals. The cell publishes an annual student magazine, “The Catalyst," monitoring student behaviour and discipline, including attendance, and upholding the institution's decorum. We ensure that valuable advice is shared with the students to have a prosperous career; instruction is delivered effectively following the curriculum and the institutional/teaching methodologies recommended by the AICTE and academic handbook.

What valuable advice would you like for the students for them to have a prosperous career ahead?

Seek internship opportunities and consider taking part in a work-study program. Grow your skills and knowledge by participating in workshops, seminars and other academic activities. Get an early start but remember to keep your skills up-to-date. Stay focused but also find a balance between your personal and professional lives.

What do you see as the department’s/ college’s greatest strengths and how it can be enhanced?

Our faculty is extremely skilled and informed. They are quite knowledgeable in the topics they teach. Plus, the visiting faculty is excellent and they cover several topics in the course curriculum that are valued by industry. The college has a very effective placement cell that places students at leading companies and offers good summer internships. The most exquisite feature of XIDAS is its infrastructure. The college features a main library, a reference library, computer labs, air-conditioned classrooms and Wi-Fi across the campus. Separate hostels for girls and boys are offered and there are three courts: football, basketball, and badminton. The variety of real-world topics are learnt in this course's greatest feature. The correct training can turn an individual into a multi-talented expert. When there aren't any festivals or events, there are usually seminars, conferences; workshops, field visits, live study and pre-event activities going on.

What are the interventions and approaches you bring in apart from curriculum to train/teach the students?

Lectures are delivered on a regular and punctual basis, lessons and instructions are given, internal assessments and examinations are conducted, and occasional leaves are given to them for a proper balance of academic, professional and personal life. We have developed the course curriculum to educate students about the topic and then implemented it in the classroom. We try to be available for student consultations on a regular basis, informing students of their availability for student consultations (both with and without appointments) and making a sincere attempt to solve their difficulties (academic and personal counseling).

How does the department enhance the skills of the faculty and prepare them according to the industry standards?

We promote familiarity with a range of appropriate pedagogical methods, skills and knowledge among the teachers. Our faculty members engage in scholarly work that includes research published in peer-reviewed journals, academic and professional conference presentations, advancing knowledge in areas of professional and discipline practices, teaching and service. Our teachers also participate in Faculty Development Programs as and when required.

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Do you have any extracurricular activities/ programs to enhance the skills of the students or expose them to real world challenges?

We hold several extracurricular activities to dynamically develop our students. On a regular, we have live studies, rural and industrial exposures and special communication and personality development classes. Our students also participate in teamwork exercises, problem-solving cases and leadership games, along with time management exercises. We have included organizational development situational analysis cases and numerous public speaking activities.

How do you help your student to cope up with the competition being so high in the outside world?

We promote and work towards improving teamwork and collaboration among all members of our college. We focus on providing intrinsic motivation and teaching them how to deal with losses. Mental toughness is important for students, along with having the courage to take risks. We make it a point to praise students when they make an effort and win.

How do you strategize the curriculum and how often it gets updated to make it befitting for the students?

Our knowledgeable faculty team brainstorms curricular ideas as needed, keeping in mind the latest developments in industry and trends while also consulting with AICTE and NEP. We also take the help of industry experts and our alumni for curriculum updates. They let us know what topics are in trend and what skills our students should know before they sit for placements.

How do you try to bring in practical approach towards subjects and make it industry oriented?

We focus on student experiences and teach students not to be content. We teach our classes using visualization techniques. Our teachers use inquiry based instruction along with an industry-oriented education. We have mandatory internships and industry visits for the students to practice their technical knowledge and skills.

How do you tend to establish healthy relations with the students and fellow faculty?

We teach our faculty members to have faith that every learner can achieve success. Teaching with that mindset will ensure that all students receive equal attention and guidance. We try to properly understand your students and greet them students on a daily basis to get them to know on a personal basis. We try to be more than teachers and students and provide them guidance regarding careers and higher education. Moreover, we accept students–and their mistakes in the classroom.