Professor Dr. Rose Varghese is the Director of the KIIT School of Law. An eminent academician, Prof. (Dr.) Rose Varghese, completed her schooling at Mt. Carmel Convent, Tangasseri. She then did B.A. English Literature and Language from St. Teresa's College, Ernakulam and then graduated in Law from the Kerala Law Academy, Trivandrum. Furthermore, she did her post-graduation in law from the School of Legal Studies, Cochin University of Science and Technology.

Prof. (Dr.) Rose Varghese began her professional career practicing in the High Court of Kerala under leading criminal lawyer S. Easwara Iyer and started her academic career as a lecturer in law at the A.C. College of Law, Nagarjuna University. She was then a member of the faculty at the National Law School of India University, Bangalore where she also completed her M.Phil. in Law. She subsequently completed her PhD from the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi. She joined the Faculty of Law, Jamia Millia Islamia Central University, New Delhi, as an Associate Professor, then became a professor, and subsequently completed her tenure as the Dean of the Faculty. She participated in and organized various national seminars and workshops in India and abroad, along with several publications to her credit. She has also been the Vice-Chancellor of the National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS), Kochi.

a

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?

I have extensive experience teaching at NLSIU, Jamia Millia Islamia, and the National Law School, among others. I have a passion for teaching. As for the educational sector, I want to re-emphasize an education with values. I cannot get myself to relax until I see the education sector, particularly legal studies, reaching heights matching global standards. I take it as a responsibility to ensure high standards in education and like Robert Frost says, I still see there are miles to go before I sleep. We cannot leave this generation without quality and value-based education.

Being the Director of the Institute what is your philosophy of leadership? How would you describe your leadership style?

I believe in a democratic style of functioning, bringing together faculty, staff, and students as a family to achieve excellence in education through teamwork, commitment, and utmost dedication. We emphasize social, moral, and ethical values without compromising on quality or skill-based education. Autonomy, transparency, innovation, relentless pursuit of excellence and compassion are the cornerstones of KIIT culture. My philosophy of leadership aligns well with this culture.

Being the Director, how do you strategize about the key programs and plans for the marketing and administration of your Institute?

We ensure exchanging information with the legal professional ecosystem through professional and social media handles of the school and the official website. We believe that the best marketing strategy is to showcase the strength to the various stakeholders of the school using value addition through collaborative activities like conferences, workshops, symposia etc. We regularly engage leading national and international law practitioners and academicians as part of our curricular endeavours. We also have a strong outreach programme at the school and university level, aimed at fostering symbiotic relationships with other law schools, research institutions, professional bodies etc.

How does the curriculum of the Institute ensure the best practice of industry?

Our medical course has one year of house surgery after five years so that students are equipped to set up practice apart from specialized areas. Similarly, the law curriculum incorporates a whole range of practical training and skill-based learning to make our students equipped to face the challenges of the profession or the corporate sector. Each syllabus is designed and vetted by academic and professional experts through curriculum development workshops, and it is subject to review by similar experts at the close of every scholastic term. The university academic ecosystem strongly emphasizes a skill-based and practically relevant approach to course design and pedagogy.

Check KIIT School of Law Courses & Fees

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

The School of Law at KIIT upholds the noble values in the constitution and is totally against racism, casteism and discrimination on grounds of financial status or other disparities in income. A student at KIIT School of Law will never experience differential treatment. On the contrary, we welcome all students irrespective of race or economic background.

What do you think your roles and responsibilities to the Institute and the students are?

My primary role and responsibility is to ensure academic ambience and opportunities for students for overall personality development. I work to ensure experiential learning and adequate exposure to clinical courses so as to be equipped to face the challenges of the profession, besides being sensitized to socially relevant and contemporary issues. 

What do you think should be the Institute’s top priority over the next 10 years?

Over the next ten years, we will be identifying new vistas in education and incorporating emerging areas such as Law, Technology and Artificial Intelligence. We are also introducing Cyber Security and Forensics for our B.Sc. LL.B (Hons.) students with Bio-Technology. Additionally, we aim to integrate Law with Social Security, Management, and Accounting. In this context, KIIT School of Law is fortunate to be part of the multidisciplinary academic ecosystem of KIIT University. We draw insights from and contribute to other schools with significant expertise in fields like emerging technology, artificial intelligence, cyber security, management and biotechnology. 

Since the establishment of KIIT School of Law, what was your vision for the Institute? Has it evolved over time, and how far along in implementing that vision?

The vision of the Institution is broad. We have multiple goals to achieve but overall, we aim to become the best in law education in the country. Our work is commendable, and we have come a long way in ensuring the institution today is second to none in its achievements and success. It has evolved into a much sought-after institution among law aspirants today.

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

I would like people to know that KIIT School of Law is unique and gives exposure to students which I believe they will not find anywhere else. For instance, our B.Sc. LL.B course now offers three streams: Bio-Tech., Forensics and Cyber Security. This is a unique aspect of our institute. On the other hand, for the BA. LL.B(Hons.) and BBA. LL.B (Hons.) courses we maintain a high level of quality and results.

Check KIIT School of Law Scholarship

What do you see as the institute's greatest strengths?

Our biggest strengths are our wide range of streams, honours courses and options offered by a group of highly committed faculties who have varied backgrounds in experience. We offer specializations, besides giving exposure to our students for a whole range of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities ensuring an overall personality development for our students.

What are some of the biggest challenges you see, both for higher education in general and for KIIT School of Law specifically?

Our biggest challenge is our competitors. We aspire to be on par with world-class institutions without compromising on quality at any level. This is in regards to the calibre of teachers, the curriculum or the opportunities offered to our students. This will help us ensure that our students excel in the profession or other avenues open. 

Any suggestions you would like to give to the current youth and the aspiring students?

There are no shortcuts to hard work and success. Students should remain focused all through the five years of their education with strong ethical values. They would be respected for their knowledge of the subject knowledge and their ethical values, besides carrying themselves with dignity and maintaining the nobility of the profession. 

What are some plans that you’re currently (or will be) designing for KIIT School of Law international affairs and/or students?

Our university has a dedicated International Relations office that handles all international affairs. The school is an active participant in the endeavours of the university towards international collaborations, student engagements, and faculty exchange programs. We have a dedicated faculty-in-charge for the international students of law where students are being drawn from over ten countries for international collaborations, and MoUs. Our primary objective is to raise the standard of the curriculum and education system of the school, work on inculcating employability skills, exchange knowledge, explore academic and research initiatives with international organizations and create in-house centres of learning like the Centre for International Studies and Development to conduct short-term courses, and diploma programmes etc.

How do you tend to establish a healthy relation and environment in your Institute?

We have put in a lot of effort to establish healthy relations and a suitable environment in the institute. With a strong mentoring program and a healthy academic ambience, we have established harmony among the stakeholders. Moreover, we have a whole range of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities apart from inculcating mutual love and respect for contemporaries and devoting time to academic discourses.