Dr. Pralay Kumar Ghosh, Management Educationalist (Former Director, Suryadatta Institutes of Management, Pune)
Posted On: 2020-04-25 11:47
Dr. Pralay Kumar Ghosh, a former Director of Suryadatta Institutes of Management, Pune and a current Management Educationalist, has always been recognized by his position and visions in his career. He stood victorious in all kinds of challenges that he had faced in his long career and is working in the educational domain for the last 15 years. He gave his 24 years to corporates of the manufacturing sector before entering into the academic field with a vision to groom students for their successful career in the management industry using his long years of experience. His contribution is not only towards the students but towards the teachers by mentoring them on organizational capabilities and giving the students practical knowledge of management outside the curriculum. His vast managerial experience and profound ambition in the academic field makes him a perfect example for many more educationalists to come.
Question 1. Please let us know more about your journey, how and from where you started?
After spending 24 years with Corporates – Cooperative to Manufacturing Sector, I switched over to Academics to bring in some change towards grooming students as per Industry requirements as experienced by me.
Question 2. Being a Change-maker, how can you contribute towards the betterment of the community of Teachers and Principals?
As indicated above, I would like to bring some changes in grooming students which would call for betterment of the teaching community, including teachers and school/college Principals. This way, it shall help bridge the gap between a hundred percent theory vs practical approach and the fact that both are complementary to each other.
Question 3. What kind of support would you like to provide to teachers and fellow educators?
Answering their queries related to career advancement on Forum., Mentoring and guiding fellow educators., Sharing your thoughts through blog or write-ups.
Question 4. Please mention some of your skills that can help community members.
Research Teaching Mentoring Documentation for Accreditation Guiding Command over language in effective written communication.
Question 5. The transition from an individual contributor to a leadership role must have required specific skills, what skills do you think are critical for teachers for such transition? Were there any challenges as well, If yes then how did you overcome those challenges?
Organizational Capabilities are crucial. Besides, teachers have to take more initiatives towards documentation (keeping in mind accreditation) and quality improvement. Constant learning, unlearning and re-learning in terms of evolution and environment dynamics is a must. The need for the future is "accreditation" and the challenge is how to ensure a better grade to compete both nationally and globally. Therefore, building agility and evolving is a must.
Question 6. How would you describe your leadership style?
Participative: My leadership style
Question 7. What advice would you give to a new teacher?
To look at beyond the curriculum for teaching, and look at the practical application of each knowledge provided, allowing students to see demonstrated results of their learning's.
Question 8. What would be your ideal school environment, and how would you encourage that kind of culture?
Of course, I am talking about a culture of participation, and if it does not exist, this culture can be created. How would you develop an inclusive environment in your school? This can happen through creating different bodies within the school, in terms of Education Councils, that have the participation of parents, students, teachers and external industry members/experts in different fields.
Question 9. How would you develop an inclusive environment in your school?
This can happen through creating different bodies within the school, in terms of Education Councils, that have the participation of parents, students, teachers and external industry members/experts in different fields.
Question 10. As the position of a Principal requires intense time management, how do you organize your day to meet the plethora of requirements and commitments required as the School Principal?
In all my responsibilities in the past, Planning has been of paramount importance to me, and I think that was the sole reason for my success in each role. Every plan was executed in a particular way, along with some agility and flexibility in the schedule as well. Running the plan efficiently is where the leadership would be on display. Be it in Corporates or Academic Institutions, I have always ensured that my planning process is thorough and robust, enabling proper execution. However, I also recognize that we live in a VUCA (Volatility, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous) world, and in that case, flexibility is the key. So, agility in plans is also something that I keep provision and buffer for within these plans. While responsibilities can never be delegated, tasks can, and that can be done effectively through detailed briefing, communications, and expectation setting.
Question 11. What is your opinion on the use of technology in classrooms? Were there any challenges that you faced in integrating technology?
I think technology has become part of our lives and a necessary one. We cannot avoid the use of technology, even in the classroom. Audiovisual presentations with VR and AR facilities makes the learning process enjoyable and engaging. I think once we utilize the positive nuances of technology through different modes of learning, it can also ensure that students don't get distracted by other vicissitudes of technology such as WA jokes and games in the classroom.
Question 12. Do you feel there are any gaps in the present education system? If so, how do you feel one can fill those gaps?
Our evaluation system mostly focuses on "Memorization" (set of standard questions and answers in the examination and they repeat) and does not provide for many scopes on application orientation and research. So, the focus must be on application/activity oriented learning. Maybe one has to consider Bloom's Taxonomy for evaluation on the lines of higher education and also look at a mix of tools that can enable in making this happen.
Question 13. Would you like to share any specific message to the community of teachers and principals?
I think Teachers and Principals must recognize that they carry the responsibility of building a nicer future. They have the biggest catalysts in their folds, which are young students who have a contributing future of 30-35 years in shaping the world in that direction. If the World of the future is kept as the Canvas, then this can enable them to create a vision in which these star students can build and evolve a better future for humanity in times to come.
Other Change Makers
- Dr. Kusum D'sa, a role model and a source of inspiration to numerous educators
- Ms.Taruna Kapoor - A Change Maker who is truly passionate about children and their development
- Dr. Sumita Chhabra Ummat - Touching Lives and Making a Difference
- Sanjeeva Kumar Sinha-The Tech-Savvy Principal who believes that humane touch is an essential part of the qualitative existence of the human race