IIHMR University

Dr. P.R Sodani is the President at IIHMR University, Jaipur Prof. P.R. Sodani is a health economist and public health specialist. He obtained his Ph.D. in Economics with a focus on Health Economics. After completing his doctoral work, he earned a Master of Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA. Prof. Sodani has been working in health systems, health economics, and health financing and extensively involved in teaching, training, research, and consultancy.. At IIHMR, he preaches the importance of mindfulness and aims at contributing to society by creating leaders of tomorrow. 

Tell us about your experience in the education industry and what makes it the best industry to work in?

“Helps to build mindfulness and makes you learn new things every day”

It has been a fruitful experience so far. I have been in the industry for more than a decade now, and it has been still a new experience every day. It has been changing rapidly over some time. Moreover, you can witness that this change is a fortunate incident. Unlike other industries, it is not unnecessary stressful, but at the same, it works at its own pace. As an educational professional, you have a responsibility towards society, and you are also considered the ideal person in society. It not only gives you knowledge about various things but also helps you to make a better person as you become patient, calm, disciplined, and kind.

What is your philosophy of leadership? How would you describe your leadership style?

“Inclusive leadership is always beneficial”

A leader should be able to guide others in the right direction. So, as the university president, I always try to guide my students on the right path. I often interact with them and teach them how holistic development and mindfulness are essential for their overall development. I never ask them to follow me or anyone, but I have always asked them to surpass me with their brilliant achievements. I always encourage them to take challenges in life because challenges make you grow. If you have not walked the uphill, you will not have the joy of reaching the top. In their journey, I stay with them as a pillar of support. 

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How do you tend to establish a relationship with the students being the President of IIHMR University, Jaipur? How do you make yourself available to them?

“Holistic approach bridges the gap”

Since the time I have joined this university, I have always conducted open house meetings with the students, where they discuss their problems and issues directly with me. We have always been conducting seminars for their mental and physical growth, and all these seminars are also managed by our students only with the guidance of our expert faculties. In such sessions, we discuss the issues faced by them. In the times of coronavirus, too, we have been conducting webinars on the topics to help them become resilient in these situations and adapt to the changing face of the education sector. We also have been conducting sessions internally with teachers, students, and their parents, and in these sessions, we address all their queries.

What goals do you have in your mind for your institute for the next few years?

“Excellence across multiple domains to provide the future leadership of the nation”

Today, IIHMR University is widely recognized as one of the most accomplished public health research universities. Its strength is its postgraduate programs, the power of the research, and its ability to transform lives by expanding educational and cultural opportunities for its students. We want to prepare students as citizens and leaders, empowering them to improve their lives and their communities through high-quality, transformative, and affordable learning experiences.

“IIHMR arranges a visit to rural areas for the students and encourages them to interact with the villagers as a part of their fieldwork”

How does the MBA in Rural management differ from the regular MBA?

“The purpose is to promote sustainable, eco-friendly, and equitable development”

Rural Management is one of the much-needed fields in India right now. India is primarily an agricultural country. An MBA in Rural Management involves the application of management principles to the rural sector and development sector. Furthermore, the course allows the students to specialize in domains, including Financial Inclusion, Health Education, Livelihood Enhancement Skills, Entrepreneurship, and Natural Resource Management. Rural Managers have bright and accelerated career prospects, lie in sectors growing in the rural space like FMCG and Consumer Durables, Banking & Finance, Insurance, IT & ITES, Telecom, Agribusiness, Manufacturing, and allied services, Healthcare, Energy, Retail, Infrastructure and many others.

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

“Firmly believe that the students should be counseled to accept reality”

The lockdown has affected the student community significantly. Undoubtedly, this is a crucial time for the education sector because the entrance tests of several universities and competitive examinations are held during this period. Although many institutes have launched online classes, adapting to the new method of educational instruction is stressful, especially for slow learners. They should try to enhance their skills through various platforms that are available online. During this time, they should be bothered about their wellbeing and how to remain happy and cheerful. Mindfulness helps in accepting reality and live in the present moment. A student must practice the inner journey along with mindfulness, which will be very useful to them.