Bhilai Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Durg, Principal: Dr. Shandhya Madan Mohan Interview

Dr. Shandhya Madan Mohan has been working as the Principal of Bhilai Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Durg, Chattisgarh since September 2019. She has done Undergraduation from Rani Durgawati University of Jabalpur followed by M.Sc. and PhD both in Food & Nutrition as part of her education. Also, she has worked in Child Labor Schools under NPCL for physical and intellectual development of children and as the Head of Department at Govt. Girls College Sagar. She is still very active in extracurricular and administrative activities and has been the Academic Counselor at IGNOU, Durg Center for ANC & CFN programmes. In addition to all this, she was the Chairman and Board Member of Home Science Pt. at R.S.S University Raipur as well as HYU Durg. And during her tenure with different academic institutions, she has evaluated and taken the viva of many candidates for the award of PhD Degree. Also, for her wonderful social work and contribution in the field of education, she has received many awards. She has also received many national and international level seminars, workshops, symposiums in F&N, has published 12 research papers in various reputed journals, authored Home Science books for class 11th and 12th along with chapters in various National level books. And for special campaigns of District level such as PNDT Act, Cholera and Typhoid, she has written many story books to motivate and inform common people. Lastly, she has worked with many NGOs like Jaycecs, Lions, Lioness Rotaract, All India Kamumi Ekta Youth Wing C.G. and many others. 

Being the Principal of BMM College, what is your philosophy of leadership?

As the Principal of BMM, my leadership philosophy is centered around collaboration, inclusivity and empowerment. And I strive to create a positive and productive environment by promoting the ambiance of effective communication, mutual respect, and shared decision-making. Also, I provide full support and guidance along with required resources on time to everyone to help them achieve their full potential. Apart from this, I prioritize building relationships and a sense of belonging within the school community. Last but not the least, as well all know that continuous improvement in skills and lifelong learning are essential for everyone, be it students or we as teachers, therefore I encourage professional development and embrace innovation, because in the end my ultimate goal is to nurture students' growth, help them discover their passions, and transform them into responsible individuals who are ready to positively impact the world.

How is your college more welcoming to students of different races or economic backgrounds?

To create a more welcoming environment for our students who come from different races and economic backgrounds, our focus remains on representation, affordability, support services, cultural awareness and sensitivity. Hence we have incorporated diverse perspectives and teaching approaches in the curriculum to suit academic needs of each student and our college even provides financial aid and scholarships to eligible and economically less-privileged students. In addition to this, we regularly promote the cultural awareness among them through various kinds of training programs and events so that understanding and mutual respect among them can be established for each other. So, these are some of the unique approaches BMM has adopted to create an all-inclusive and supportive community that values and celebrates the diversity of its student body.

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

I strongly believe that fostering the most favorable environment for Academic Excellence and students' success & well-being, maintaining diversity, equity and inclusion in our programs and educational practices should be our goal for upcoming years. Apart from this, we should focus on integrating latest technologies in our courses, curriculum and college’s infrastructure, maintaining and enhancing our strong relations with our industry partners Technology, providing good Internships opportunities to students, establishing a favorable environment in college for research and innovation and for Alumni engagement and support along with making students sustainability and environmentally responsible should be our aim so that students and faculty members can grow and college reputation can be enhanced over time.

What are some of the greatest strengths of your BMM College?

Our committed, highly qualified and experienced faculty members, who teach students with full enthusiasm and passion followed by a vibrant and diverse student body that we have on campus to foster a dynamic learning environment are the main pillars of our college’s strength. Additionally, our industry connections who provide valuable opportunities to students for best practical learning experience and networking makes us strong and resilient. 

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

In my opinion, some of the biggest hurdles which higher education institutions are facing nowadays include the urgent need to quickly adapt to rapidly changing technological advancements, addressing the rising costs of education and student debts, and meeting the demands of a competitive job market. And if I talk about my own college, then enhancing diversity with respect to female population we have in college, ensuring they get affordable, good quality and employment-oriented education, attracting and retaining top faculty talent, staying updated with industry trends, and effectively integrating technology into the curriculum while maintaining a balance between online and in-person learning experiences for our students, promoting career opportunities and breaking gender stereotypes are some of the obstacles we need to address and fix on an earliest basis.

Apart from this, ensuring safety and security measures, addressing societal expectations and gender biases, and providing mentorship and support to our female students in today’s traditionally male-dominated fields are some of the hurdles we are working to resolve as soon as possible. Lastly, creating a robust network of alumni to provide guidance and empower students in their professional journeys is our goal.

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

My suggestion to the current youth and aspiring students is to embrace curiosity, pursue their passions, and be open to continuous learning. In addition to this, I would advise them to take risks, build strong interpersonal skills and look for diverse work opportunities where they can utilize their existing skills and develop new ones. And remember that failures are opportunities for growth, so everytime you are not able to achieve your decided goals, analyze things thoroughly and learn from them and have a strong perseverance as both are key to a successful life.

How do you establish a healthy relationship and environment in your institute? 

I have prioritized the environment of open, trustworthy and trans[arent communication along with mutual support and active listening to promote the positive, inclusive and healthy working-learning environment in the college and maintain good relationships with everyone, be it my dear students, faculty or staff members. And I also encourage others to collaborate on a regular basis, respect diverse perspectives of people coming from a different backgrounds and mindset and create more opportunities for engagement. 

Which extra curricular activities are organized in your college to enhance the skills of students?

Our college conducts an extensive range of activities and events such as sports tournaments and competitions, cultural fests including annual events and talent shows followed by entrepreneurial and leadership development programs and community programs to enhance students' skills and expose them to real-world challenges. Apart from this, best internships opportunities and in good companies too are offered to them and they also participate in the National Service Scheme activities from time to time.

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How do you guide your students to survive in such a competitive world?

Being a girls' college, so for the purpose of preparing our students for this cut-throat competitive world, we regularly guide them and equip them with practical life skills from time to time. In addition to this, we do use some of the best approaches to nurture their leadership qualities and foster an entrepreneurial mindset among them. Also, the programs we offer to them are very much helpful in developing their critical thinking, problem-solving and communication skills. Last but not the least, students get our full support for exploring things and experimenting with their business ideas and opportunities to gain hands-on knowledge of various subjects and a broad range of activities and events like workshops, personality development sessions, mentorship program along with co-curricular activities are organized by us from time to time to help curious and young minds navigate challenges of outer world be it education sector or industrial one, find innovative solutions for them and succeed with much more confidence and courage.