Dr. R. Srikanth is the Principal of Mar Gregorios College of Arts & Science, Chennai. Previously, he was Dean of the Institute of Commerce and Management in a couple of private universities. Prior to this, he held several distinguished positions, such as Principal, at Cherraan Arts Science College, Kangeyam, Dean-Academic Administration at D G Vaishnav College, Chennai, Head School of Management, Hindustan University Chennai, etc.

Dr. Srikanth has two and a half decades of experience spanning industry and academia. He is a graduate of Loyola College in Chennai; he received his MBA degree from the University of Madras. He also earned his M.Phil. in Management from Alagappa University, Karaikudi and he received his PhD in Management Science from JNTU, Hyderabad. His research area has been knowledge management, and his interests include HR Excellence and International Marketing.

Dr. Srikanth began his career in the NBFC sector and was associated with Sundaram Finance Ltd for about three years. Then he subsequently moved into academics and has worked with some of the best institutions, including SRM University, where he was the coordinator of International Relations. He is a recipient of the ‘Shiksha Rattan Puraskar’ award from the India International Friendship Society, New Delhi, and the “Glory of India Gold Medal” from the Institute of International Success Awareness, New Delhi, in August 2013. He received the “Best Departmental Head” award from The Society for Educational and Entrepreneurship Development [SEED] in September 2017 when he was heading the School of Management, Hindustan University, Chennai.

Dr. Srikanth has been the resource person in quite a few AICTE / UGC-sponsored FDPs relating to NAAC. He has published quite a few papers at national and international conferences. His publications include Scopus-indexed, ABDC-listed, and UGC journals, apart from others. He has two book chapter publications and published four books as the primary author and two books as the sole author.

Dr R Srikanth

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

We use several strategies to achieve a practical approach to our subjects. We have introduced case studies, practical issues, and examples into the curriculum to enable students to appreciate how theoretical concepts are applied in practice. We implement internship and placement programs with companies to enable hands-on experience for students in the industry. We have continuous assessments that include projects, lab work, presentations etc. We take regular feedback from the stakeholders on what should be implemented in the curriculum. Students are also taken for industrial visits and workshops.

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

As an affiliated college whenever the university revises the syllabus, it is adopted by us. We do not have the power to make changes to our course syllabus. However, we can introduce short term courses as we deem necessary for our students.

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

We provide curriculum-add-on courses and skill development programs for our students. We also have courses to bridge the gap in industrial demands and student’s skills. Moreover, we have made internships a part of the curriculum so that the students get experience of real-world exposure while they are still studying.

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

Our curriculum needs to be kept up-to-date for the benefit of our students. Creating and maintaining good relations with industry to provide real-time projects for classes as well as giving internships to graduates has become a recent challenge. Some of our students come from different educational and cultural backgrounds. I believe that they should be offered
differentiated instructions and support. High-quality education initiatives require sufficient funding to update the infrastructure and contribute to faculty development, and student programs.

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

My dream, as I assumed the charge of principal at Mar Gregorios College of Arts and Science, was to see it emerge as a hub of excellence that imparts knowledge and moulds graduates who are rounded and ready to meet all the demands of the industry. Be it academic excellence, for which the quality of education was to be raised according to international standards, or industry integration whereby academia should bridge the gap that has been created between them and the industry to enhance employability, the goals were many. We have implemented numerous strategies to achieve this over the next few years.

How does the curriculum of your department/college ensure the best practice of the industry?


We often liaise with our industrial partners and employers to get feed-forward information on the performance of our graduates, about their strengths and areas that need improvement. Feedback is directly used to update our curriculum and introduce new courses or modules. Technical skills, an important focus area of the curriculum are necessary to develop critical soft skills such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership. These are developed by incorporating workshops, seminars, and group projects into the curriculum. We have industry- recognized certification programs as part of the curriculum that give students a competitive advantage and prove their proficiency in certain areas.

How does the department/college/University enhance the skills of the faculty and prepare them according to the industry standards?

We have regular workshops, seminars, and faculty development programs on state-of-the-art industry trends, technologies, and pedagogies. The college also invites industry professionals and academics to talk about their fields. We provide full support to our faculty with opportunities to do advanced research/study at top-class academic institutions. Training on new technologies is provided along with encouraging the faculties to take online courses, NPTEL, and MOOCs for regular updates on the state-of-the-art in their field.

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What do you see as the department’s/college’s greatest strengths, and how can they be enhanced?

Our faculty team demonstrates a high degree of expertise in a wide range of disciplines and is dedicated to lifelong professional learning. They love teaching and are always willing to participate in mentoring relationships with students as a means of creating a supportive and stimulating teaching environment. Guyana is home to state and national extracurricular
opportunities that allow students to contribute to their holistic development.

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

As the principal, my foremost advice to students for a prosperous career ahead would encompass several key areas. Always strive to improve and upgrade your knowledge and skills. It is a dynamically changing world, and relevance will require continuous learning. Go on an internship as well as other project programs to get real-world experience. It will not only add to the enrichment of your resume but also practical insights into a chosen field. Develop your communication skills both verbal and written. Be flexible. The ability to adjust to change can lead to a more rewarding career path. Learn from failures and look at them as opportunities for growth.