Mr. Anil Talukdar has been working as the Director of Kukreja Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology, Dehradun, Uttarakhand. He has done his schooling from the Doon School, Graduation from St. Stephens College of Delhi, MBA and Diploma in French from the Alliance Francaise de Delhi. He has also written 2 text books called ‘parlez a l’hotel’ in two parts widely acclaimed and used as reference books by IHM’s in India. Mr. Talukdar started his professional journey with Oberoi Hotels as Management Trainee in 1976, on completion of which in 1978, he was posted to the Oberoi Sheraton (now Trident) at Nariman Point Mumbai as Assistant Manager, Lobby. Then in 1981, he was transferred to the Dammam Oberoi Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where he remained for 5 years attaining a promotion to Senior Lobby Manager and a Dept. Head. He also attended the Summer Courses at Cornell University Ithaca of New York in 1984.

After this, Mr. Talukdar worked till 1986 with Oberoi Palace of Srinagar as Executive Assistant Manager, followed by the GM of the Hans in New Delhi from 1988 to 1989 and then with the Resort of Aksa Beach of Mumbai as General Manager for 2.5 years. He left India in 1992 and moved to Dar Es Salaam Tanzania for an assignment with Msasani Peninsula Hotels Ltd. as General Manager, and from there he went to Uganda to work as a General Manager with the Madhvani Group’s Hospitality assets which included two 5 star wildlife Lodges and a Sailing Club in Jinja. In 1999 Mr. Talukdar returned to India only to be recalled by the Msasani Peninsula Hotels of Tanzania to open their new Golden Tulip Franchise hotel in Dar Es Salaam and work as GM and Consultant for a team recruited from India & South Africa. 

He chose to get into Academics then, and joined Ram Institute of Hotel Management as Principal in 2003. In 2004, Mr. Talukdar moved to Graphic Era Institute of Technology (now University) as Director in the Faculty of Hotel Management where he worked for 1 year. In 2005, he chose to shift to the new Kukreja Institute in Ajabpur Dehradun where he still works as Director.

Kukreja college

What are the key factors that keep you connected with the education sector?

I always had the passion of sharing my knowledge with young and curious minds to foster their intellectual growth and contribute to the development of society by educating them. And the sense of fulfillment and happiness which we as educators receive after shaping minds, facilitating learning, and witnessing student achievements is above everything and beyond any explanation. 

Last but not the least, the dynamic and challenging world of education gives us immense opportunities to learn new things and upgrade our skills and many direct-indirect windows to make a positive impact on future generations. Hence I would say all these factors together are the reasons for my association with the academic sector.

Being the Director of Kukreja Institute, what is your philosophy of leadership? 

As the Director of Kukreja College, my leadership philosophy revolves around collaboration, innovation, and student success. Therefore, I regularly promote the culture of open communication and on campus to empower my staff members. Apart from this, I encourage creativity and value transparency, accountability, and a student-centric focus in decision-making. 

So, in order to build a dynamic institution that quickly adapts to changing surroundings, we make best use of the latest technologies to ensure efficiency in our activities and embrace diversity of thought. All in all, my leadership style combines visionary thinking with practicality, striving to prepare students for the future while positively contributing to society

How do you strategize the key programs for the marketing and administration of your college?

Being the Director of our institution, I always craft a strategic vision for administrative activities and enhancing our reach among our future students. To be more specific, I regularly collaborate with our stakeholders to analyze ever-changing market trends and students needs and employ data-driven insights. 

Apart from this, we extensively use different digital platforms to enhance community engagement and our institution visibility among people. Professional development of our administrative team always remains my focus so that they remain competent and motivated throughout the year. And we also conduct rigorous assessment of our courses to make sure they are effective and relevant and also to make necessary improvements as and when required.

How pursuing courses from your institution could be beneficial and worthy for students?

In our college, students from diverse backgrounds and countries can gain a unique and enriching educational experience because of multiple factors. First and foremost, our curriculum has been designed with a perfect amalgamation of both theory and practical so that youths can receive best quality knowledge and work exposure and enhance their critical thinking and problem-solving skills throughout the process. 

Then comes the culture diversity of our institution which always promotes a global perspective and students to collaborate and learn from different viewpoints. Other than this, we have an amazing academic team of highly trained and experienced professionals to teach students. Last but not the least, we offer a range of extracurricular activities to students to ensure their holistic development.

How does the curriculum of your college ensure the best practices of industry?

The curriculum of our college is meticulously crafted to align with the best practices of industry. And we maintain close ties with leading professionals, industry experts, and employers to stay abreast of current trends and demands. In addition to this, curriculum is reviewed and updated after a definite amount of time to make sure our graduates are well-prepared, possess the skills and knowledge that meet or exceed industry standards and can lead to their seamless transition from academia to the professional world.

Regular advisory board meetings are also held to get in-depth knowledge and valuable insights to ensure our programs remain relevant. Hands-on training sessions, latest technologies and best pedagogies have also been integrated in the curriculum to allow students to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios through internships.

Check Kukreja Institute of Hotel Management & Catering Technology Placement

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

In addition to providing quality education, fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for students of different races and economic backgrounds is our priority. Hence, we actively promote and celebrate diversity of students in our college through targeted outreach programs, scholarships, and financial aid initiatives. 

Cultural sensitivity training is also incorporated into our faculty and staff development programs. Additionally, we celebrate cultural diversity through events, workshops, and student organizations. Collaborative partnerships with community organizations further enhance support systems. Apart from this, regular feedback mechanisms are in place to address concerns and continuously improve our inclusivity efforts. 

What are your key roles and responsibilities towards the college and students?

Being the Director, my key responsibilities encompass strategic leadership, academic excellence and financial stewardship. Hence I have prioritized the success of our students by fostering a supportive environment. In addition to this, I am responsible for engaging myself in external relations, fundraising activities and overall governance of the institution to ensure its holistic development. 

Promoting diversity and inclusiveness and encouraging the culture of research and innovation on campus, maintaining a transparent, trustworthy and respectful communication channel for everyone also comes under the scope of my work. Hence with a focus on academic rigor and responsiveness to societal needs, my goal is to lead the college in fulfilling its mission, enhancing its reputation, and providing students with a transformative and inclusive educational experience.

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

I strongly believe that our paramount focus for the next few years should be on technological integration, global engagement and diversity promotion. Because, embracing emerging technologies, fostering international collaborations, and prioritizing an equal and inclusive teaching-learning environment for everyone will ensure our relevance and prepare students for a connected, challenging and dynamic world. 

In addition to this, our priority should be on aligning our courses in accordance with industry needs, promoting sustainability and enhancing support services for students for their complete growth and development. We should also invest heavily in research and innovation in order to put us as a forward-thinking, resilient and globally competitive institution capable of navigating future challenges and serving both students and society effectively.

In your opinion, how do leaders accomplish their task with different kinds of people around them?

In my viewpoint, leaders often adapt goals based on changing circumstances and feedback. And regular assessments followed by necessary adjustments are common for them to align visions with evolving educational landscapes. Apart from this, Leaders may prioritize aspects like technology integration, global engagement, and student well-being to ensure ongoing relevance and success for the institution.

What would you like people to know about your college that makes it different from others?

Our college not only offers good quality and employment oriented education to students but is also a hub of innovative research projects and community engagement initiatives. In addition to this, we treat every student equally and provide financial support to needy ones and scholarships to academically bright students. We also engage students regularly in various kinds of extracurricular activities, and the result reflects clearly in their achievements. Hence I would say that youths will get the best ambiance and exposure here in our campus to grow on both personal and professional level.