Why did you establish Galgotias University after founding a number of engineering and management institutions? Tell us about the vision and values that drove its founding.
My team and I had founded engineering and management institutions under the Uttar Pradesh Technical University (UPTU). This essentially meant that we followed UPTU guidelines on everything: syllabi, pedagogies, faculty strength and quality, education processes, student intake, etc. The experience was marvellous. However, it also showed us that we could do much better in terms of establishing a complete higher education ecosystem, which would function as an intellectual capital generator for the country. We also wanted to establish a higher education system benchmarked against the processes of the world’s best education practices, geared to produce far superior outcomes. We studied the best practices across the world and consulted with excellent minds and thought leaders in education and virtually every domain in industry. We explored with leaders in all kinds of research institutions and clusters. The vision of a 360 degree university developed slowly and at the appropriate time and opportunity, we founded Galgotias University.
With regard to a personal driving vision for Galgotias university: I am clear that each of us is here on earth to serve - to the best of our ability. Each of us must discover and develop our finest talents and use them to serve; so as to evolve into forever-learning and forever-serving human beings. My focus has always been on the skills that India needs most urgently – namely engineering in all possible disciplines and management, followed by other disciplines that service India’s manpower needs such as law, medicine, forensics, finance, etc. When I look around the country and see reports and surveys indicating that only 6-10 per cent of college pass-outs are employable, we stand completely vindicated in our decision to make industry integration the cornerstone of our academic excellence.
Your university has exchange programmes with other foreign universities. Do you think international tie-ups are effective?
We find partnerships with international universities and institutions extremely enriching for all stakeholders. Our driving vision is to evolve into a centre of international education excellence, comparable to the best in the world. To achieve this vision Galgotias University continually develops strategic international partnerships with reputed universities and institutions of higher learning across the globe. Our global strategy aims to develop strong and effective partnerships which provide faculty, students and researchers at both institutions with opportunities for international collaboration and active involvement in multi-disciplinary projects at a global level. In the case of each relationship, these tie-ups add muscle to teaching pedagogies and infrastructure on the ground and access to critical global education processes. To ensure maximum market-readiness in students, Galgotias University works to build maximum international exposure into each program, so as to prepare students extensively for leadership and to think globally.
How successful is your placement cell?
Galgotias University uses industry-guidance as a fundamental pillar to inform and drive the educational experience. The industry is involved in every aspect from program development and introduction, syllabus development and updating processes, to classroom and offsite teaching, lectures and seminars, projects and internships. The Industry is also involved in training of faculty and setting up of joint infrastructure, right through to placement of job-ready students. Many of Galgotias University’s students are placed even before completion of their studies, simply because industry has been involved at every step of their education. However, Galgotias University also conducts a deep and rich campus placement program. Over 150 leading corporate and other institutions attended last year and the numbers are growing with each passing year. Galgotias University provides 100 per cent placement support to all its students and uses the following processes to significantly improve the campus placement strike rate:
1. Competencies and needs of top corporates are clearly identified for campus hires
2. Detailed market analysis is used to invite top corporates to the campus
3. Students are arduously trained to fit the requirements of the recruitment process (test/interview) laid down by participating corporate
4. Well-guided internship programs are used to appropriately orient students and make them aware of different work cultures
5. Flawless recruitment processes are implemented successfully every year with a growing list of top corporate.
6. Galgotias University has signed and implemented different models of MoUs with various corporates to increase the employability of students.
Various universities have infrastructural issues. How is your university different in this regard?
Galgotias University offers a range of cutting-edge resources in order to help students achieve their fullest potential. We are committed to an ambitious on-going investment in buildings and facilities, for the optimum contemporary learning and research environment. The Galgotias University campus is set in 52 acres of prime real estate on the Yamuna Expressway. The campus is close to some of the finest infrastructure being built in the National Capital Region (NCR). The state-of-the-art campus has been designed by renowned architects specializing in educational architecture. The laboratories, classrooms, library, hostels and cafeterias and other spaces are comparable with the world’s best. The campus provides an ambience perfectly conducive to teaching, learning and research. Its proximity to the educational hub of Greater Noida makes it an excellent education destination.
How does your university take up social issues or create awareness among students?
Several of the schools at Galgotias university have in-built social awareness cum work initiatives. The Galgotias University’s Legal Aid Clinic (GULAC) is an initiative of the students and faculty of the Galgotias University School of Law, in collaboration with the UP State Legal Service Authority. The GULAC was set up in order to help implement the policy and directions of the National Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 and the National Legal Services Authority (Legal Aid Clinics) Scheme, 2010. The GULAC enables disadvantaged members of the general public, largely hailing from the surrounding areas to access free legal help and obtain speedier justice in the local courts of law. Students from the Galgotias University School of Law provide assistance with research, drafting legal arguments and client meetings; while its faculty represent clients before the relevant Courts. The free legal aid clinic is a well-proven pedagogy to teach law school students the processes of the law and provide hands-on experience. The GULAC renders free legal aid and provides assistance in approaching appropriate authorities for redressal of grievances, assistance in the resolution of disputes and free legal assistance in courts The GULAC assists undertrials to prepare legal documents and provides pro-bono counsel, conducts pre-litigation mediation, renders preventive advice and monitors follow-up in matters in which legal assistance has been provided etc. Students from various other schools go into the villages in the surrounding areas and mentor children through their schoolwork too.
Do you equip students with relevant skills that enable them to hit the corporate world running?
We believe that Galgotias University imbues each student with ‘Thinking Quotient’ - essentially the ability to learn and stay relevant across a long professional career. We are dedicated to finding solutions to big challenges and to preparing students for leadership in a complex world.
I cannot emphasise enough how we use industry-guidance as a fundamental pillar to inform and drive the entire education experience. This guidance goes above and beyond mere academics and comprises the following: 1. Upgrading business communication skills through a comprehensive skill program across the entire education span; 2. Aptitude up-gradation through a skill enhancement learning methodology that is used from day one, which allows students to take on the real world; 3. Personality development sessions for all students; 4. Technical and HR Mock Tests and interviews are conducted before commencement of placement sessions; 5. Interaction of the students with eminent corporate personalities through campus visits and video conferences. However, it is my belief that the constant involvement of industry ensures that students are forever aware of the realities of the world beyond the university walls.
How do you ensure excellent student intake?
It’s simple. We offer them a world-class faculty, allied with industry-guided programs, international pedagogies and infrastructure that is comparable to the world’s best. So it is only natural that we should attract the finest and dedicated student body to round out our quality education ecosystem. We actively work to take in top students opting for private sector education. For technology programs, Galgotias University uses its all-India engineering entrance examination – the GEEE, which serves as a catchment for excellent students. Our students come from across the world, representing diverse perspectives, experiences, backgrounds and cultures. Our applicants are admitted on merit alone, and the university offers substantial financial aid to help families manage education costs. Once here, students discover extraordinary freedom of opportunity — to explore, to collaborate and to challenge themselves.
Yes, we have cutoffs for all programs along mandated AICTE and UGC guidelines. However, since the university’s efforts are perpetually directed at creating a higher quality intellectual capital creation ecosystem, we have higher and higher cutoffs each year. Across programs, the university accepts the scores of other admission tests such as the JEE/UPTUEE, CAT/MAT/XAT, CLAT/LSAT etc, in addition to percentages obtained by students in their academic qualifying exams. There are well laid down admission processes that extend beyond these basic score-based gateways such as group discussions, aptitude tests and interviews. Galgotias University offers a world-class education experience and a high quality student peer group completes the ecosystem, which in turn ensures that our pass-outs emerge as a high quality workforce that is cognisant of its social realities and is entrepreneurial in its response to challenges.