Dr. Usha Khandelwal is the Dean of School of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences at Eklavya University. She has earned a B.Sc. degree in Biology and an M.A. in Philosophy. Thereafter, she completed a PhD in Philosophy and a PG Diploma in Guiding Counselling in Psychology as well. She has published one book and two book chapters in her area of expertise. During her career, Dr. Usha has guided ten PhD students and has served as Vice Principal and Principal at numerous institutes and schools like Gayatri Vidyapeeth, Makalsuta Convent School, and Poineer Convent School and Poineer College among others. Dr. Khandelwal has also published over 12 papers in reputed journals.

Eklavya University

You have held key positions at education institutes throughout your professional career. What keeps you connected with the Education Sector and how has your experience been so far with the institute?

It has been a wonderful and meaningful experience to stay connected with the education sector and university. Today’s world is becoming more and more all about making money and ignoring the basic values of humanity. This leads to the situation where a student becomes successful in their life but cannot sustain themselves for long because of a lack of moral and ethical values. As educators, it is our duty to emphasise not only academic excellence but also nurturing moral and ethical values in students. This holistic approach ensures sustainable success, contributing to a society built on integrity and compassion. I am very passionate about teaching and want to have a positive impact on student’s lives. To help students with career advancement, continued learning, and a continuous impact on society are just a few of the reasons that keep me connected with the education sector.

Being the Dean, what are your roles and responsibilities towards the students?

Being the dean, it is my responsibility to ensure that student’s academic experiences and outcomes are positive. I collaborate with faculty members and staff to ensure the timely completion of students’ classes and activities, fostering an environment conducive to their educational growth and success. Apart from these, I am responsible for supporting students in academic and non-academic growth, academic planning, providing guidance, and other student-focused aspects that aim at the overall development of the students.

Do you have any extracurricular activities/ programs to enhance the student’s skills or expose them to the real-world challenges?

Apart from academic activities, we offer courses and programmes that lead to the physical and mental development of the students. Yoga is a compulsory part of the curriculum, providing holistic well-being benefits to all individuals. It promotes harmony, strength, and mindfulness, contributing to a healthier and more balanced lifestyle for everyone involved. We aim to foster a holistic learning environment, cultivating their interpersonal skills and fostering a global mindset through diverse activities like cultural programs, competitions, soft skill training, and sports activities, ensuring they are well-equipped and confident to face the challenges of the outside world.

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How does the curriculum of your institute ensure that the students are being prepared for the future?

Our curriculum is well-designed and provides overall development opportunities for the students. We review the curriculum from time to time to ensure it is up-to-date with industry standards. We promote learning that integrates multiple disciplines. Internship opportunities, guest lectures, and subject knowledge challenge-based testing are there, which help the students develop skill-based learning and real-world problem-solving skills. We offer soft skills training, such as communication skills. We incorporate ethics and social responsibility into our curriculum. These are some of the principles we adopted that prepare students and help them stay relevant in the future.

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

Enhancing the skills of a faculty and preparing them as per the industry is always an important part of our university plan. We provide training to our faculty in various software. We encourage them to use the various tools and technologies in teaching and research. We offer regular FDP and workshops for faculty members, which can cover a wide range of topics, teaching methods, techniques, and industry-specific knowledge.

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

Today, the competition is very high. Not just academics, but also a student needs to have strong moral and ethical values. We incorporate various strategies in academics as well as in their wellness to equip them for any situations they may face in the outside world. Every day we have a prayer session, where we do some Q and A and encourage students to share their thoughts and share some thoughts about great people. We do career guidance as well as counselling. The goal is to not just cope with competition but also thrive in the outside world by having the necessary resources, knowledge, and strong core ethical values so that they make a meaningful impact on society.

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

Students should be highly focused on the subject and field they choose to pursue. Have complete knowledge but also develop your core values and principles. Keep continuously learning and upskilling to make yourself competitive. Moreover, make sure to take time out for yourself and your connections in order to not burn out.