Dr. Ruchir Saxena is the Head of the Department of the IT Department and an Associate Professor at the Poddar Group of Institutions. He is also the Innovation Ambassador of the IIC Council, Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell, Govt. of India. For his efforts, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2022 by the Global Foundation for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. Dr. Saxena is a GDPR and Data Privacy Expert on LinkedIn, a Certified Mendeley Advisor, Elsevier and Mendeley, and a Certified Microsoft Innovative Educator at Microsoft. He has also published four patents, ten research papers and five books in his research area.

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Being part of management, what is your philosophy of leadership? How would you describe your leadership style?

My philosophy of leadership centers on the principles of servant leadership, where the primary goal is to serve others and empower team members to achieve their full potential. I believe in fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment where every team member feels valued and heard.

According to you, what makes the education industry the best industry to work in?

First of all, I believe that education is not an industry; it is a service to society and that is the only thing which makes it the best. The most important factor, I feel is that it empowers not only individuals but also society. It gives you the opportunity for continuous development, staying abreast of current events, encouraging critical thinking, and creating connections with communities, students, and families.

Being an integral member of the Institute, how your work impact the growth of the institute?

Nowadays, education is a business, but if we are in it, our moral duty towards students is to make them not only professionally well but also good human beings so they can serve their families, society and country. With the support of management, we always work on the 360-degree development of students and we can proudly say that our students work in different sectors as well as in different domains and are doing exceptionally well, which impacts the growth of our institute.

How do you prepare students to face challenges of modern organizations and global standards successfully? 

We focus on cultivating critical thinking, adaptability, and cross-cultural competence. We enhance their analytical and decision-making skills. We emphasize the importance of continuous learning and staying updated with industry trends through the use of advanced technologies like Apple iOS, Data analytics, IOT/Robotics, ML/AI, DevOps, Data Security and analysis and innovative teaching methods. Additionally, we foster a collaborative and inclusive environment that values diverse perspectives, equipping students with the ability to work effectively in multicultural teams. We also focus on providing opportunities for internships, industry partnerships, and global exchanges, ensuring students gain practical experience and a broader understanding of the global landscape.

What is the latest program that you are offering in your institution/department?

We have recently started offering a Bachelor of Computer Application (B.C.A.) and a Master of Computer Application (M.C.A.) degree. We always work towards fulfilling the needs of industries and developing skilled professionals, towards which we offer different add-on courses with our regular undergraduate and post-graduate programs. The beauty of our courses is that we prepare our students with different certification programs like Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Data Security and Analysis, Robotics, IOT, Data Science etc. with regular government graduation or post-graduation programs. The best part of this theme is that students can do multiple add-ons with Government affiliated degrees.

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Most optimum path according to you for a student wanting to excel in this field!

The most important thing in the field of technology is to get into the industry first without bothering about packages at all. To achieve this, students should pursue relevant undergraduate and postgraduate degrees with a strong focus on educational theories and pedagogy. Complement this academic foundation with certification courses aligned with career goals. It is also vital to gain practical experience through internships, and projects.

How do you plan on using the immense knowledge and experience you have gained over the decades being an integral member of the university?

We share knowledge and experience to mentor and guide students and faculty, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation. By sharing the best practices and insights gained over the years, we aim to enhance curriculum development, promote effective teaching strategies, and support research initiatives. Additionally, we will work on strengthening industry partnerships and community engagement to provide valuable opportunities and resources, ultimately contributing to the university's growth and the success of its members.

What are the valuable insights of the program that you are offering?

The most impressive and valuable part of our offering is that we provide highly reputed and globally recognised government-affiliated degree programs like BCA and MCA. We also have different certification programs which are affiliated with well-reputed IT industries and foreign universities. The best part is that our students can opt for more than one certification program as per their ability.

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

We have a dedicated cell working on industry-academia collaborations throughout the academic year. We have also collaborated with almost all leading industries, like Apple iOS, Microsoft, AWS, Mongo DB, Oracle, Linux, Palo-Alto, AWS, ICT, Bosch, Aladdin and many more, who provide industry exposure to our students in the form of internships, jobs and expert networking sessions. We have DST funded incubation centre, and research and development labs in collaboration with these industries too.

When you look back on your time in the educational industry, what’s the significant difference? 

Over the years, the most significant difference has been being positive and futuristic. I also personally feel that the approach to today’s education is more practical and industry oriented. Curriculums are also designed to be more skill based than theoretical, which prepares students for success when they look for jobs.

Any feedback you would like to share with the new generation coming forward?

As I am a man of information technology, I always believe in innovations. I would advise students to try and explore new ideas. Never be disheartened by failures, just as they always allow you to learn and improve yourself towards success.