Dr. Ryntihlin Jennifer War is the Dean of Academics at Martin Luther Christian University. She did her Ph.D. in Health Sciences from Martin Luther Christian University, Meghalaya. She has over 17 years of experience in Academics. Her areas of interest include Gender Studies, Reproductive Health, Sexuality Education, and Life Skills Education for youth with special reference to the Matrilineal Khasis. He has published four articles and presented five research papers in national and international journals. Four students are currently pursuing Ph.D. under her supervision. She has attended 19 workshops till now and has organized eight workshops and seminars. She was honored with The Scholl Research Challenge Award for young investigators, in 2010 in the category of Education and Human Resource Development and has also received an Award for Excellence in Teaching, in 2022 at Martin Luther Christian University, Meghalaya, India.

Martin Luther Christian University

You have held key positions at education institutes throughout your professional career. What are the key factors that keep you connected with the education sector?

The key factors that keep me connected with the education sector are participating in continuous professional development programs, and connecting with people from the world of work, from employees, yers, and especially the community. The feedback from them can enhance the relevance of the curriculum. 

Being the Dean of MLCU, what is your philosophy of leadership? How would you describe your leadership style?

I would define myself to be a visionary and democratic leader, especially an expansive and empathetic one. 

Being the Dean, how do you strategize about the main programs and plans for the marketing and administration of your institute?

We believe in word of mouth. Therefore, being student-centric and prioritizing student well-being will take us a long way. Our academic philosophy is also student-centric. That being said we also have a separate marketing team that overlooks the strategies of our marketing plans.

How does the curriculum of MLCU ensure the best practice in the industry?

We invite practitioners and people from the industry to be part of our Board of Studies. Our students are exposed to industrial/ organization visits from time to time. Moreover, we have embedded internships as part of our curriculum.

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

I came from a conventional educational setup. I reflected on the drawbacks of the system, especially the end-term evaluation system and the lack of a student-community interface. I envisioned a continuous evaluation system where students are assessed 'for their learning' continuously. With the cooperation of the administration and faculty, these ideas have come to fruition.

Any insights into how your institute could be more welcoming to students of different races or economic backgrounds?

Our university offers 100 free scholarships for students from different economic backgrounds. In most programs, we have cultural events where students can showcase their dress, food, and culture they come from. Also, our Act states that “The University shall be open to all persons irrespective of class, caste, creed, religion, language or gender.

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

All undergraduate students take a foundation course on Community engagement and understanding India where they stay in the community for one week. They are to report on the challenges and problems faced by the community. All students also undergo internships Their participation has exposed them to real-world challenges

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

Each student is unique and has their capabilities. We believe in providing students with the academic scaffolding they require through faculty mentors.

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

Going by the anecdotal evidence about 85-90 percent of our graduates are employed. Career preparation and guidance are provided to our students on entry and exit to the University.

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

The curriculum is updated through a Board of Studies every two years. The University has endorsed the National Education Policy 2020 and the UGC Curriculum and Credit Framework for Undergraduate Programs is implemented in the academic year 2023.

What would you like people to know about your institute they may not know?

We are a community-centric and a student-centric university. We believe in experiential learning: learning by doing. Alongside student academics, student well-being is equally important to us.