Mohan Borkar is the Director of Avatar Meher Baba College. He holds a B.Sc. degree from Ambedkar College and an MBA from Surya Datta Institute in Pune. After graduation, he worked in a bank and has years of experience in the industry. While working here, he also received the Best Employee Award in his company. As an academic, he has been inspiring and motivating children towards success.

Avatar Meher Baba college

Being the Director of college, what is your philosophy of leadership? How would you describe your leadership style?

I think it's important to prioritise the success and welfare of the students at the center of all decisions. This entails developing a welcoming and inclusive learning atmosphere, offering tools and chances for professional and personal development, and proactively seeking out student feedback to continually enhance the educational experience. I want to encourage and inspire the teachers, staff, and students at the college by articulating a compelling vision for it. I work hard to successfully convey this vision, foster a feeling of mission and enthusiasm, and promote innovation and excellence in practise, research, and teaching.

Is there anything that you would like the world to know about your college, that they do not already know?

I want people to know that we focus on the overall development of students at our college. We don’t just work on making them good in pharmacy related subjects; we also teach them the values and virtues that help them become better citizens and professionals. A lot of our previous students are doing well in various aspects of their professional lives due to these qualities. We provide students with additional value-added courses that help them gain more knowledge apart from the curriculum. The students here learn different skills that add value to their resumes.

What are your primary responsibilities and how do you balance other aspects of your job?

As the college head, my basic responsibility is towards the all-round development of the students, right from academics to training as well as internships. I also look at certain aspects of teacher training, which is one of the key aspects of the student’s present and future endeavours. I try to focus more on the first year students. The college has an inbuilt student core council that works on the student’s problems. For every operation in colleges, there is a staff and a committee present. There has been a training and placement department, a cultural committee, staff who deal with dignitaries and industry experts who conduct seminars and webinars, and a research committee. Moreover, I have coordinated with all the staff and committees to ensure smooth work in college.

What are your future plans and work you want to implement in college forward?

Apart from trying to give a better experience to students in terms of internships, and live projects, we are also working on more suitable methods of teacher training and evaluation. On top of that, we also plan on providing a better campus experience to students to make the learning journey more comfortable and fun. 

Check Avatar Meher Baba college Faculty

What is the scope of this education when it comes to the real world, and how can the students make a career out of it?

There are lots of opportunities for students after finishing their college education in this field. They can join companies in the same sector, start their own startups, or work for NGOs. They can also try getting into government-led institutions through various exams. A lot of our students also opt for higher studies and get into research work.

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

The students should recognise their area of interest and not just go with what is popular in society. I always tell my students to discuss with peers and professors to make better-informed decisions. Students as well as newcomers to the industry should work on acquiring new and futuristic skills. They should focus on their overall development by working on their CVs and taking more courses to enhance their skills, which would help them have a prosperous career in their field.

How does the program ensure that students are being prepared for the future?

The curriculum is well-planned and follows the regulatory board guidelines. The students are taught recent knowledge that will help them when they join the pharmaceutical industry. The students must work on projects that give them a practical approach. Through skills enhancement programs, students can take various courses that will help them prepare for their careers.

What were the challenges that you faced while inculcating the courses in college and how did you handle it? 

The challenge is to provide practical experience for students along with the curriculum. We have various seminars and webinars given by industry experts to provide practical experience. The students have to work on different projects in each academic year to get hands-on experience with the knowledge they gain. The other challenge is to bridge the gap between new trends and the curriculum so that students learn about new techniques and knowledge. We provide additional courses for students to gain extra knowledge apart from the curriculum. Different training programs are also conducted for students as well as faculties.