Interviews

Dr. DH Singh Thakur on Defence Education & Innovation said “We Are the Only Defence University in India” Q: Could you tell us more about your institution? A: I’m really glad to talk about my institute. In a nutshell, this is the only defence university in India, operating under the Ministry of Defence. It is part and parcel of DRDO itself. We offer only postgraduate courses, including MTech, MS, MSc, and PhD programs. We cater to the needs of defence organizations across India. Q: Do graduates from your institution have job opportunities in the defence sector? A: The majority of our students are sponsored professionals from defence organizations like the Tri-Services, DRDO, Ordnance Factory, and DPSUs. Recently, we have started admitting civilian students to meet the demand of private defence industries. Our aim is to educate and help in recruiting skilled professionals for both public and private defence sectors. Q: Where does digital literacy stand in your institution? What digital education processes have you implemented? A: In defence, IT and cybersecurity are crucial. Our defence organizations are vulnerable to cyber threats, so we work extensively in this domain. We also train a large number of central government officers to address cybersecurity challenges. Q: What factors do you consider before adopting education technology products? A: We are strong believers in “Make in India.” We ensure that any technological products we adopt are tamper-proof and prefer homegrown solutions rather than relying on foreign technologies. Q: Does your institution have an incubation center? A: Yes, and you are talking to the right person—I was the former director of the incubation center at DIAT. I established it, and it is running successfully. We encourage young students to engage in defence innovation. DRDO has an initiative called “Dare to Dream,” which provides funding from a few crores up to ₹10 crores. Q: What initiatives does your institution take for faculty training? A: Since the defence sector has a high manpower requirement, we conduct faculty training at both national and state university levels. This ensures that knowledge reaches students effectively through trained faculty members. Q: How do forums like this, where academia, corporates, and government come together, benefit the community? A: These forums help us connect, exchange ideas, and understand each other’s perspectives. Earlier, we weren’t in the public domain, but now we are, thanks to platforms like yours. We also get insights into what civilian universities require. Q: ArdorComm Media has recently completed three years as a media startup. Any message for us? A: I really appreciate that ArdorComm Media, despite being just three years old, has already started making an impact. Media houses like yours play a vital role as “E-weapons” in today’s world. Q: Thank you for attending this forum and sharing your insights. A: Thank you for inviting me. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

“We have created a tech-driven environment where everything—from attendance monitoring to assignments, examinations, and assessments—is digital” said Dr. Parag Amin Q: What are some new skill initiatives at your university? A: First and foremost, let me thank Kumar Anand for organizing this wonderful conclave. I think the theme ‘Digital Bharat’ is not only innovative but also very contemporary and realistic in today’s context. India needs a lot of focus on skills, but the real question is—what are we doing about it? At our university, we take pride in being the first urban private skills university based in Mumbai’s corporate hub, BKC. Our emphasis is on empowering students to learn by doing. Traditional learning has two components—knowing and doing. As a SkillTech university, we prioritize the latter. For example, one of the biggest challenges in India today is employment. Many seek jobs, but few generate employment. At our university, we focus on fostering entrepreneurship by developing startups so students can become employment generators rather than seekers. This is achieved through a confluence of technology, leadership, management, and design—our four core pillars. We ensure our students are equipped to stand on their own and create their own enterprises. Q: What initiatives have you taken in teacher training? A: We do not just train or teach teachers—we empower them. There are three key areas where we focus on faculty empowerment: Technology Integration: We have created a tech-driven environment where everything—from attendance monitoring to assignments, examinations, and assessments—is digital. We empower faculty by providing them with this environment and training them to leverage it effectively. Creating a Learning Environment: We conduct faculty development programs every semester, where faculty share best practices, and experts from outside bring fresh perspectives. Student-Centric Approach: We believe students must be at the center of the learning process. Faculty are trained to bring student-centricity and empathy into the classroom, ensuring a more engaging and effective learning experience. Q: How do forums like this help stakeholders in education? A: You are doing a commendable job by bringing all key stakeholders together. Some are providers (like universities), some are consumers (like corporates hiring students), and then there are regulators (like government bodies). If these stakeholders do not share a common platform, a communication gap arises. For example, what we produce as a university and what the industry wants should align. Similarly, regulatory policies should empower universities to meet industry demands. Platforms like this bridge the gap between education providers, employers, and policymakers, ensuring a balanced demand-supply equation in the skill development ecosystem. This is the second event I am attending organized by ArdorComm Media, and I was very impressed by the first event in Pune last year.

“AI is embedded in all our programs, including core engineering branches” said Dr. Prabhat Ranjan. Q1: What digital initiatives have been taken under your leadership? A: I have always focused on digital and future-driven education. From day one, we have integrated digitalization into our curriculum, infrastructure, and teaching aids. Our AI-based computer science program launched in 2019 influenced other institutes by 2020. Q2: What initiatives have been taken in AI, Metaverse, and immersive technologies? A: AI is embedded in all our programs, including core engineering branches. We introduced AI elements like generative design, digital twins, and AR/VR technologies. Our hybrid classrooms use smart cameras, and students have access to mobile electronics labs and 3D printers. Q3: Do you see a gap between industry and academia? A: Instead of following the industry, we focus on developing technology within the university so that industries follow us. Tata Motors professionals now come to us as students, showcasing our leadership in education. Q4: What achievements has your incubation center made? A: We started in 2019 but quickly pivoted to solving global challenges during COVID. Our focus is on creating job creators, not job seekers. Every student is encouraged to set up companies, and we integrate technology commercialization into our curriculum. Q5: What skilling initiatives have you undertaken? A: The most important skill today is “learning to learn.” I personally train students in AI-based creativity. We have top-tier facilities like 3D printing and integrate real-world experiences, including rural internships, into every program. Q6: Any message for ArdorComm Media on its third anniversary? A: I have known ArdorComm Media for a long time and appreciate your hard work. I wish you continued success and many more anniversaries to come.

“All these technologies, including immersive VR, often fail when introduced to Tier-2 or Tier-B colleges, where students struggle with fees and loans” said Dr. Sanjeev Sharma Q: How was your experience at today’s event? A: It’s a great event, Chandan. It’s a unique experience for me, with eminent speakers, scientists, and media professionals present. I travelled from Ghaziabad to Mumbai for this, though I could have attended a similar conference in Chandigarh. However, after coming here, I feel it was definitely worth it. Q: What are your thoughts on digital education and initiatives for students? A: All these technologies, including immersive VR, often fail when introduced to Tier-2 or Tier-B colleges, where students struggle with fees and loans. However, we are doing a lot to support them through CSR funds and MSME grants. MSME and DST provide financial assistance to our college for student development. Q: What skilling initiatives are you working on? A: We have collaborations with NSDC and MSME, which fund our students’ projects. Recently, we developed a drone and a 3D printer, which has gained popularity among our students. Q: Do you have incubation centres for entrepreneurship? A: Yes, our college has 7 to 8 entrepreneur cells. We have partnerships with Ulex, JCB, and Samsung, which have set up labs where students can develop their own products. Some of these innovations are even patented, allowing students to earn through them. Q: Any initiatives for teacher training programs? A: Yes, we conduct multiple Faculty Development Programs (FDPs) in collaboration with IIT Guwahati and NIT Chandigarh to enhance teaching skills. Q: How does media support your institution? A: Media plays a significant role in securing support from organizations like MSME and NSDC. It also helps in maintaining government accountability. Through media, I can invite ministers, government officials, or even the Police Commissioner to my college, which strengthens our institution’s reach and credibility. Q: Apart from RD Engineering College, are you involved in any other initiatives? A: Yes, apart from education, I run a company focused on lateral hiring. Through this initiative, we have placed over two lakh students in various companies. As an advisor at Abdul Kalam Technical University, I have also contributed to placing over 15,000 students in a single year. Q: What is your feedback on this forum? A: Chandan, I have attended several such platforms, but yours stands out as a truly national-level platform. You bring together people from Chandigarh, Haryana, UP, and Mumbai, making it a unique and impactful event. Q: Any good wishes for ArdorComm Media? A: Of course! My best wishes to ArdorComm Media. Everyone here is talking about this event, whether over tea or lunch. It’s truly a one-of-a-kind experience.

“Alumni are the backbone of any university. We organize large-scale alumni meets across India, identifying where our alumni are and their designations” said Dr. Swati More Q: What initiatives have been taken under your leadership in the training and placement section? A: Being a private university, we have a lot of autonomy in collaborating with industries. We offer six-month internships and project-based learning, where students complete multiple projects from the second year itself. By the final year, they gain experience equivalent to two years, making them industry-ready. We also conduct reverse engineering to understand industry needs and train students accordingly through workshops, seminars, and certifications in collaboration with companies like AWS. Since the industry is now focusing on skill-based hiring, we ensure students get certified in different domains, highlighting them in their resumes to increase their chances of selection. Q: What initiatives have been taken for the alumni engagement program? A: Alumni are the backbone of any university. We organize large-scale alumni meets across India, identifying where our alumni are and their designations. Through MOUs, they contribute by connecting their industries with us and engaging with students via guest lectures, webinars, and seminars. Some alumni also join as mentors, guiding and supporting students in their career paths. Q: What do you think is the real gap between industry and academia when it comes to placements? A: There is an industry-academia gap, which has been discussed for years. It will take time to minimize because we still follow conventional ways of delivering degrees. However, private universities have taken a step forward by providing internships, live case studies, and industrial visits. These visits help students understand company culture and operations, making them better prepared for interviews and corporate life. Q: How does bringing academia, government, and industry on the same platform help in solving societal challenges? A: The agenda is to bridge the gap by facilitating conversations and resource-sharing among academia, society, government, and industry. This collective approach ensures that the right resources reach the right people, ultimately addressing major societal challenges. Q: Any message for ArdorComm Media on its third anniversary? A: You are doing a fantastic job by bringing all stakeholders onto one platform. This is a huge task, and you are executing it effortlessly. Keep organizing such events, as they help address many societal issues. I wish you all the best!