Mrs. Manjit Kaur is an Assistant Professor of the Department of Fashion Designing at KMS College of IT and Management. She has over ten years of experience in the corporate space and in academia. Mrs. Kaur holds a Master of Design in Fashion Design and a Bachelor of Design in Fashion Design.

KMS College Of IT And Management, Dasuya

Being a Faculty of the Fashion Designing department, what are your roles and responsibilities towards the students?

As a fashion design faculty member, I have several responsibilities. I need to understand the potential of every student, their learning speeds, and their interests. I should always be ready to guide them in any situation and give them feedback to improve. Students must be taught to be upstanding individuals with integrity and honesty by their teachers. I also try to encourage my students to participate in extracurricular activities.

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

Building healthy relationships in the classroom and on campus is essential for the smooth functioning of the college. I do this by, first, choosing a good communication source to reach everybody. I spend one on one time with teachers and students when I can. I try to take a genuine interest in their likes and dislikes. Sharing stories and relating to them is also a great way to bond. Attending college events is an excellent way to meet everyone and get to know them better. Finally, it is important to accept people as they are and not mold them to fit us.

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

Practical skills in fashion design are key to separating good students from others. We take our students on site visits related to their subjects. They receive presentations and video demonstrations during their classes. Besides theory classes, they also get to try out the studied material. We have regular projects and case studies to help in this regard as well. During the academic year, students also visit conferences and workshops to network and learn more about the industry.

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

We try to have several best practices in our department to bring the best out of the students. There is a strong emphasis on practical work combined with field and industry visits. These help students see how to use their learned knowledge. We utilize presentations and video demonstrations for our regular classes. Our workshops and seminars are also excellent places for students to practice their soft skills.

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

To update our curriculum, we rely on professional learning community support. We have set up a collaborative and team learning system. Students get learning targets and assignments along the way to assess their progress. We have added a professional element to our curriculum that prepares the students for work life. These are only a few of the steps we take to update our curriculum.

Check KMS College Of IT And Management, Dasuya Courses & Fees

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

Higher education is a better option if a student wants to work in academia or research. But on the other hand, campus placements are also a good option if students want to start working and gain industry experience. Our department prepares students for higher education by establishing long-term goals or objectives. We perform extensive research on what to include and what to do. We also examine our student’s language proficiency to prepare them for higher education and give advice when needed.

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

We try our best to make our students capable enough to stand up against the competition. Firstly, we teach them about positive competition and developing a good sportsmanship spirit. We create varied lesson plans and assessments to keep the students up to date with the industry. We offer rewards for outstanding students on a performance basis to keep them motivated.

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

We do have some extracurricular activities and programs related to sports and games. These are perfect for students to release stress, enjoy some free time in college, and learn new skills. We also organize an annual sports meet for students. To enhance the skills of the students, we organize different activities like workshops/ seminars/guest lectures/ field trips/industry training, etc.

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

Our biggest challenge is the lack of motivation among students. It is hard to persuade them to pursue higher education and apply for jobs. We have many issues with digital literacy which came to the forefront during the pandemic when we took online classes. We also need to work on our course structure to be on par with our competitors and international universities.

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

My vision is very simple I want the best for my students. I want to provide an environment in which they can feel comfortable while they learn. I will do my best to impart quality knowledge to my students and to motivate them to have an ardent passion for learning. It is my goal to instill in their minds that education is a stepping stone towards reaching their goals in life and that knowledge is a powerful weapon to combat life’s challenges.

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

With the advanced teaching methodology, students are exposed to maximum practical learning. We use projects, case studies, industry visits, and expert interactions to help students practice their skills. They also need to take up mandatory internships to complete their courses.

How does the department/college/university enhances the skills of the faculty and prepares them according to the industry standards?

There are many different training programs and faculty development programs to enhance the skills of the faculty. Some of these events are organized by our college, and some are by nearby universities. Even the college/university encourages them to attend the TTP, FDP, seminars, conferences, and workshops with paid leaves. We also encourage our teachers to take up research opportunities to further their education.

What are the interventions and approaches you bring in apart from curriculum to train/ teach the students?

We give plenty of feedback for our teachers and students to work on. Besides this, we monitor their progress to identify weak points and areas that need more work. We will regularly update and communicate our common goals so that all of us can work towards them. We believe in giving direct instructions while also encouraging them to participate in competitions and extra-curricular activities.

What do you see as the departments/colleges greatest strengths and how can it be enhanced?

The greatest strength of any department or college is the quality of education and everything that we do for the students. To enhance the quality of education at our college, we work on maintaining our infrastructure and facilities. We bring in qualified and experienced teachers who can teach and also conduct extra-curricular activities. We also have Government initiatives in place to help with financial aid and career opportunities.

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

My advice to the students is to seek internship program opportunities. Take part in work-study programs and internships whenever possible. Grow your skills and knowledge, take part in research, and solve case studies. Always learn new skills, stay focused, and peruse your passion.