Mr. Subhadeep Bhadra is the Director, Training and Placement Head at Srinath University Jamshedpur. He has over nine years of teaching experience in the Department of Management at universities and colleges at both UG and PG levels. He has worked in the Telecommunication industry previously and is currently involved in the education industry. Mr. Bhadra has top skills like Marketing Management, Training and Development, Corporate Relations, Team Management, and Career Management.

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What do you think your roles and responsibilities to the University and the students are?

The responsibilities I need to do are multi-faceted. I need to first work towards building the brand identity of the university among the corporate fraternity. My primary duty is to train students on the different parameters of soft skills and corporate etiquette which is essential for any student to survive in the industry. It is my responsibility to provide my students the opportunities to step into the corporate world through the campus placement drives is my primary objective along with getting them not to undermine the various internships and live projects, industrial visits, workshops and seminars that are provided. I try to create a sense of belongingness towards the industry and inject a sense of professionalism on a daily basis. 

What were the challenges that you faced while inculcating the placement program in your curriculum?

There were many challenges that I encountered and still do on a day-to-day basis. The challenge of being stuck in the erstwhile syllabus driven approach towards career building is the case with most of the tier 2 and tier 3 institutions in India. Students are new to the concept of skills training and therefore they are sometimes apprehensive about the same. For the students, it is sitting in classrooms, attending lectures for four or five hours and going back home. Anything new is a big challenge for them and therefore they tend to lack seriousness. Time management is a major issue for students right now, as is understanding the importance of campus interviews. Every student wants a job but is not willing to put in adequate effort for it.

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

Our placement program ensures that students try and adopt various skills they are apprehensive about. Live projects and certification courses have been made mandatory. Attending soft skills and corporate training classes has been mandatory too. It is not just academics anymore, but skills development or should I say all-around development. Sometimes when things don’t happen with courtesy and politeness, one needs to be a little strict in their approach, knowing that the end motive is for the good and success of the students.

Being the Placement head of Srinath University what is your philosophy of leadership? How would you describe your leadership style?

I believe that leadership style changes with the target audience. If the motive is good for the long-term well-being of someone, then considering my target audience I would say my leadership style is autocratic with a dash of love and empathy. Discipline and professionalism are things I value, which is what I try to instill in my students as well.

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What inspired you to pursue a career in higher education, and what drew you to your current role as a Placement head?

I was from a corporate background and I never thought for once about embracing a career in the education industry. You can say it was destiny’s call and I became a part of an industry which I never thought I would be in. I did not know how to teach, or how to handle students because I am used to working with grown-ups in the industry. Before I could accept students into my life, they accepted me with all their love and support, which has changed the course of my life. I started enjoying this career and the rest is history. I started as a faculty member, but the registrar of my previous university asked me to take care of his university, which I couldn’t deny. This led to my foray into campus placements and today I am the placement head. My students and my love for the corporate world probably inspired me to take up the role of Placement Head.

What do you think sets your institution apart from other colleges and universities and how do you communicate that unique value proportion to students and other Stakeholders?

The remarkable rate of growth in student enrollment since two years of its inception bears testimony to the fact that parents and students place their trust in Srinath University. I think every educational institution has a well laid out syllabus, extremely talented faculties and campus placement opportunities that are beneficial for the students and so do we. But this faith invested by students in setting us apart would be more appropriate for a student to answer because if I say things it might sound like self-flattery.

How do you tend to build an industry connect with this program?

Regular corporate meetings, conferences, workshops, industry visits, and corporate MoUs are sources of connecting with industry stalwarts. Once a connection is built, effective use of PR certainly helps in maintaining the industry–university relationship. This opens the door for students to have more opportunities in terms of campus placement and internships.

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

The current youth is more aware thanks to technology but also needs clarification. The choices in terms of career options have grown over the years, which has certainly led to more confusion. Make the best use of technology and keep yourself informed about the corporate world. Equip yourself with various technical skills which are relevant to the career path you are about to tread and don’t just depend on academics. MS Excel is mandatory and other related software, if you want a better chance for yourself. Do as many live projects and internships as possible during your academic years because that will give you first-hand experience of the job you plan to take up as a career tomorrow. English is the business language that must not be ignored. Believe in yourself because you are precious and you are here to win. Don’t worry, some get it today, while others get it a day later. Just trust yourself.