Dr. Anant Kumar is an Associate Professor and Head in the Rural Management Programme at Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS), Ranchi, Jharkhand. He obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degree in Psychology from the University of Allahabad, and M.Phil. and Ph.D. from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. He offers courses in Behavioral Science, Organizational Behavior, Public Policy, Public Health, and Soft Skills and Personality Development. He is also an Adjunct Additional Professor at the Global Institute of Public Health, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala; and an Affiliate at Global Gender Center, RTI International, USA. Dr. Kumar is an Associate Editor, Public Mental Health; and a Member of the editorial board of Materia Socio-Medica. He has participated and presented his work globally in conferences in the USA, Canada, Australia, China, Malaysia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malaysia, and Bangladesh. He is on the panel of reviewers for various national and international Journals and has published over 90 papers in national and international journals like Economic and Political Weekly, Lancet, Public Health, Journal of Mental Health, Health Sociology Review, Social Work in Public Health, etc. He has two books and five book chapters to his credit. He is a member of the Expert Committee of the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), and a member of the Board of Studies at IIHMR University, Jaipur, and MIT World Peace University, Pune.

XISS Ranchi

In your role as Head of Program, could you outline the strategic initiatives you plan to implement for the program's advancement?

Program advancement is a continuous process. We have taken various strategic initiatives for the Rural Management program advancements. Some of them are thorough course restructuring every three years and course revision every year to incorporate new research and knowledge depending on the rural sector, market, and stakeholders demand. Besides, alumni and other stakeholders such as development/industry partners and recruiters engagement has been our focus, and we involve them in curriculum design, revision, placements, and academia-industry partnerships. We also involve and partner with them in teaching, consultancy, and research projects. International collaboration and exposure are another initiative where a few students participate in a fully funded International Summer Internship program of two months and summer school of two weeks in Europe. 

How do you incorporate a pragmatic approach into the curriculum, ensuring its alignment with industry requirements?

As mentioned above, our curriculum is designed with inputs from development/ industry experts and practitioners with a particular focus on rural management thus it is well-aligned with development and rural sector requirements. Besides this, 360-degree engagement with alumni and development/ industry partners is another feature of the program where they not only partner and give inputs in curriculum design and development but also teach as experts, engage our students in their live projects, invite students for the summer internship program of 8 weeks (60 days) but also recruit them in their respective organizations. We incorporate case studies in our pedagogy to bring theory into practice.

Could you elaborate on the department's recommended best practices provided to students for acquiring essential skills?

Our curriculum focuses not only on knowledge transfer, but we equally emphasize skills and competency building. In each course, we invite development/industry experts to deliver talks and share their experiences and advancement in the sector. One of the best practices since the beginning has been field exposure and experiential learning which we continue and innovate. Our particular focus is on rural field exposure, urban field exposure, block placement, study tour, field practical and institutional visits, that provide more exposure to our students. Besides, 60 days of the summer internship program is a development/industry immersion program where students are exposed to the organization’s working culture, values, vision, mission, and program and various field interventions in rural as well as urban areas. We balance theoretical inputs and practical exposures to promote the essential and required skills of students.

What is your strategy for curriculum development, and how frequently is it updated to stay current with industry demands?

As mentioned above, we restructure our program curriculum every three years and program revision every year to incorporate new research and knowledge depending on the rural sector, market, and stakeholders' demand. In program restructuring, we engage all stakeholders such as students, alumni, development/ industry and academic partners, organizations, recruiters, etc.

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What are your perspectives on prevailing placement trends and associated expectations within your department?

So far, our placement has remained excellent and satisfying. Over the years, we have been able to place all students across sectors be it national NGOs, International NGOs, CSR, Microfinance institutions, banks, state livelihood societies, etc. Last year, our average placement package was 7.35 lakhs.Although in the last few years, students’ aspirations have increased in terms of packages and return on investments, often students fail to recognize the importance of working at grassroots organizations, gaining experience, and learning that will help them to excel in the future. 

In preparing students for the competitive job market, what measures do you employ to assist them in navigating and excelling in the professional landscape?

Apart from academic focus, we groom students and prepare them for a competitive market by offering various elective courses apart from mandatory core courses. We have a mentor-mentee program where each student is provided a faculty mentor to guide them both on the academic and professional front. We also conduct pre-placement grooming sessions by faculty and development/ industry experts. Soft skills and personality development classes are organized to prepare them to face interviews, and participate in group discussions, and job interviews. We also encourage students to learn different skills by enrolling themselves in SWAYAM courses and other MOOC courses.

Are there extra curricular or co curricular activities and programs in place to augment students' skills and expose them to real-world challenges?

We have around ten student clubs apart from the Rural Management program club named ‘Prakriti.’ Other clubs are the Rotaract Club of Social Revolution; Obscura – a media club; Aawaz- a club for drama, writing, storytelling, or blooming creative ideas; Embark – a management club of XISS to build and foster a community of preeminent professionals who strive to change society for the better through their unique thought processes and rare business acumen; Pulse – a dance club of XISS, Maxis- Band of XISS etc. where students participate in different cultural and sports activities. Students also participate in Business Quiz, Debates, Elocution, and other activities that help in their co-curricular development.

What challenges have you encountered or currently face in elevating the educational quality within your program?

Fast-paced market needs and requirements, increasing monetary and package aspirations among students, and students' over-engagement with gadgets such as mobiles especially in social media are the challenges. but some of these challenges can also be seen as opportunities.

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How does the curriculum of your program ensure the integration of industry best practices?

As mentioned above, industry-academia partnerships are very important these days. We have partnered and signed MoUs with various institutions/NGOs/Industries for knowledge partnerships, live projects, summer internships, collaborative research,projects, seminars, conferences, symposiums, workshops, etc. where our students are engaged and actively participate. Case-based teaching, industrial visits, and sharing by development/ industry experts are important components that integrate industry practices with the program curriculum. 

How does your program contribute to enhancing faculty skills and aligning their preparation with industry standards?

The program contributes to faculty skills development through participation in various seminars/ conferences, faculty development programs,training, certificate courses and their involvement in various consultancy projects and programs.

What valuable advice would you offer students to ensure a prosperous career trajectory in your field?

Students may be advised to be more focused on learning, develop skills and competencies required in their field, and keep themselves open to new areas of exploration. Learning new skills and competencies is a must to survive, grow, deliver, and serve society.