Prof N M P Verma, Vice Chancellor, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University emphasised on the foundation of startups

“The current economic philosophy emphasizes disinvestment, market growth, CSR, and the hiring of technologists and professionals by corporate sectors.” Said Prof N M P Verma, Vice Chancellor, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University

We would like to know more about your university. Under your leadership, how has the university expanded and flourished, and what is your vision for the coming years?
This university was established by the Parliament of our country in 1997, and over the last 25 years, it has established itself in various disciplines such as social sciences, technology, engineering, science, environmental science, mass communication and journalism, law, and many more. We have two centers here, one of which was previously occupied by IIIT, and we are now developing that campus. We have around 800 students, 400 teachers, and 1,000 non-teaching staff, along with approximately 1,000 PhD scholars. Our campus spans about 250 acres, equipped with full infrastructure, and is located in the heart of the city near the airport, with easy access via the highway. The university is a NAAC A++ accredited institution, and we recently organized a NAAC workshop for the North Zone. We have also advocated for changes in the NAAC rating policy to ensure that only truly deserving universities receive the highest ratings.

In the 21st century, how important are skills and employability, and how is your university progressing in this direction?
Education is intrinsically linked to employability, knowledge generation, peace of mind, pleasure, and even entertainment. But fundamentally, education provides livelihood. We all work for our livelihood, seeking wealth, assets, and luxury. In this century, especially in a country with a rapidly growing population like ours, employability is crucial. If more and more educated people remain unemployed, it indicates that the country is not progressing, which could lead to violence, political instability, and social issues. My humble suggestion is to link education with ethics to prevent moral erosion in society. Character building is essential, just as it was during our national struggle for freedom. We must ensure that education is free from unethical practices like question leaks and delays in result declarations. The big challenges today are in imparting education, evaluation, and enhancing employability. If around 80% of IIT graduates are not finding employment, we must question the purpose of their education. We need to increase employability to ensure that the income level rises, and as income increases, the population size may decrease due to the inverse correlation between the two. This will lead to overall improvement.

In forums like this, where the government, policymakers, corporate representatives, and academicians come together, what do you think is the takeaway or outcome of such gatherings?

Corporate sectors play a significant role in the development of the country. The current economic philosophy emphasizes disinvestment, market growth, CSR, and the hiring of technologists and professionals by corporate sectors. These professionals are, in turn, driving startups and investments both in India and globally. However, the best talents from our country often migrate abroad due to the substandard ease of doing business here. This issue needs to be addressed to attract and retain our best talents, who are currently moving to capitalist or developed nations.

This is the third anniversary of ArdorComm Media, and we are celebrating our third year. Do you have any message or good wishes for the ArdorComm Media Group?

Yes, you are doing very well in terms of social transformation and business development. My advice would be to focus on managing quality over quantity, as there is a lot of competition in your field. If you maintain quality, your success will naturally follow, and your growth will be substantial. My best wishes to you.