Mr. Sumit Kumar Dubey is currently working as an Assistant Professor in the Biotechnology Department at D.L.S. P.G. College, Bilaspur (C.G.). He holds M.Sc, M.Phil and PGDBM degrees. He has 7 years of teaching experience including 9 years of research experience. He has published 8 papers in peer-reviewed and indexed journals, 8 book chapters, edited 3 books, authored 1 book and 1 patent published. He has been registered for a Ph.D. since 2019. His research interests are Microbial enzymes, agriculture microbes, bio-composting, and bio-nanotechnology.

DLS PG College

Being a Faculty of the Biotechnology Department, what are your roles and responsibilities toward the students?

As a faculty, the major roles are effective classroom teaching, student counseling, remedial classes, doubt-clearing sessions, planning of curriculum delivery, students’ internal assessment, practicals, and conducting internal examinations. The other responsibilities include supervising M.Sc. 4th semester project work, guiding scholars while they working in a departmental research lab, and routine research activities along with taking care of departmental reports.

How do you tend to establish healthy relations with the students and fellow faculty?

Being trustworthy is a prime need of a healthy relationship in all contexts. In the view of students, listening to their issues, moral support, asking questions about their studies and plans, and celebrating departmental academic events are of prime concern. For fellow faculties, I tend to establish trustworthiness, helpfulness, respect and acting real.

How do you try to bring in a practical approach towards subjects and make it industry-oriented?

A practical approach includes hands-on learning, using virtual aids promoted by MHRD, study games, case studies, and problem-solving are some famous approaches during a student’s study tenure. To make them industry oriented, the Student Development Program (SDP) was organized last year in association with PIBM, Pune. Additionally, the first-year (II Sem) students often visited nearby industries to understand the industrial process and their working culture. Successively in a second year (IV Sem), the students need to work on applied project work (either in-house or research lab or industry) as per the curriculum.

What are the best practices offered by the department to the students that help them gain the necessary skills?

The departmental best practices include the Biotech Association (responsible for the organization of subject-related events throughout the session), engaging students for the development of applied products during their project work along research and extension activities for the benefit of society. College-level seminars and relevant activities were organized for all students of the colleges e.g., Communication Skill and Personality Development training was organized in association with PrimeStep Gurgaon.

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How do you strategize the curriculum and how often does it get updated to make it befitting for the students?

As we are an affiliated college, we are strictly adhering to the curriculum provided by Atal Bihari Vajpayee Vishwavidyalaya (ABVV). However, we are contributing toward the development of a new curriculum for M.Sc. Biotechnology.

What are your views on the placements and higher education about the students from your department or how does your department prepare students for Higher education?

We have a career counseling cell in our college that ensures counseling and placement of the students of the college. We have proudly created an alumni group of the college and they are invited as guests to encourage students in higher education, to deliver their strategies to creak competitive examinations and to share their work experiences.

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

Advanced learning methodologies and virtual aids are used during teaching. The updates on the biotechnology fields and job openings in life science fields are floated by the departmental WhatsApp group so that the students are aware of the latest trends and job prospects.

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

Routine academic activities are conducted at departmental and college levels under relevant MoUs.

What are the challenges you faced/ are facing to uplift the quality of education in your department?

Not really……because the management provided three interactive boards on a college campus and made ICT-equipped rooms for ICT-based advanced learning systems using the National Digital Library. Additionally, the faculty undergo time to time training program on the latest ICT teaching pedagogy and development or upgradation in subject matters.

When you came to the college, what was your vision and how are you trying to achieve the same?

My vision is to excel in the field of biotechnology. For 7 years, I am actively engaged in academic and research activities including papers publications, books, and patents. I have attended GIAN training programs and conferences, presented papers in seminars, and completed SWAYAM & NPTEL courses. We have conducted mushroom and vermicompost training programs for farmers and students on or outside the campus. We have translated NPTEL lectures and reviewed many research articles. Conclusively, the working environment in our department is healthy and progressive.

How does the college enhance the faculty’s skills and prepare them according to industry standards?

Our college provides funds to encourage faculty participation in national and international conferences, seminars, training programs, and FDPs to uplift the quality, skill, personality, and subject knowledge of faculties.

What valuable advice would you like to the students for them to have a prosperous career ahead?

Students need to venture outside of their comfort zone to skills and knowledge. They must do internships, training, and personalized carrier-oriented courses after UG or PG. There is no alternative to hard work and dedication. You need to consistently update your knowledge every day and last but not least always work on your skills which makes you admirable.