Dr. Supriya Pattanayak is the Vice Chancellor at Centurion University of Technology and Management. She has extensive teaching, research and policy experience and her research interest is in the field of gender and development, social work pedagogy in different contexts and research methodologies. She is a dynamic leader who emphasises on learning through practical ways. Read here what she has to say in her interview.

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What are the key factors that keep you connected with the education sector?

“To enlighten students keeps me connected to the education sector”

I have always been teaching, be it in Australia or India. It may be a semester or a course, but I have always kept the link with education while working in the development sector. The idea of shaping the career and life of future citizens fascinates me a lot. And to do this, I think one needs lots of passion and compassion because this gives us the strength to do what we do because we work in remote geographies. It also allows us to impact society in a manner that is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. And the last thing I would like to say that it gives us the most significant opportunity to reinvent ourselves. 

What are your thoughts about the NEP 2020?

“NEP will bring in transformation”

I think it’s topical. It’s the right time. We should acknowledge that education quality is not up to the mark. If we feel this way, then we see that the New Education Policy addresses a number of issues. It’s a step in the right direction. Right now, colleges are governed by many different systems. But the New Education Policy is attempting a single regulatory system, which is probably the need of the hour. In academics, New Education Policy mentions bringing vocational education to the forefront, the teacher’s education within the ambit of the University system. The third aspect is to address the practical aspects of education. Many graduates are not employable. And we at Centurion University are a forerunner in this aspect. We try to make education hands on, experience based and practice oriented. So this is my take on education policy

What is your philosophy of leadership?

“Democratic style is what I adhere to”

I believe in a democratic style of leadership. I always try to take my team along. But it’s challenging because sometimes we have to make decisions quickly. And getting everyone’s opinion in such a short time span is difficult. Therefore, we have to delicately balance between these things.

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What are the major challenges you face in the administration of the university?

“Primary focus is to study the impact”

Our primary focus is to understand how we impact both the local and global economy and society. Therefore, the focus has been on production and productivity. When the university was first established, several Social Entrepreneurship Initiatives were started, which sit on the margins of university. And these entities have been the practice labs for our students. We take the experiences back to the classroom from these labs. These Initiatives give services that are akin to university but not the core function of university. The faculty, while playing a critical role, straddle both spheres, upgrading their own knowledge and skills while at the same time bringing the best experience to the classroom with the support of industry partnered laboratories and workshops.

 What do you see as Centurion University’s greatest strengths?

“Our students and faculty are the backbone of the institution”

Our university's biggest strength is that we provide practice-based education and skill-oriented teaching and learning. Also, I would like to mention here that we try to measure ourselves on the basis of the impact we are creating in society by increasing productivity through innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology. And I think with the help of our industry partners we will get there.

How do you tend to establish a healthy relation and environment in your University?

“A mindset shift from teaching to learning is essential”

As an administrator, I feel we have to change the mindset from teaching to learning. Also, I don’t believe in any hierarchy. Students or professors, everyone must feel comfortable while expressing themselves. There should always be transparency in the organization. There has to be respect for one another and for the environment. And I consciously try to maintain it here. And that’s how I try to establish a healthy relationship.

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

“Students must attain patience to learn something well”

It is essential to understand learning is a life-long process. In the current context, everything is quick-fix. However, the ancient virtue of patience still holds true for everyone today, be they students or teachers. We need the patience to learn something well. Finally, the most critical issue is to keep oneself aligned with the global sustainable development goals. We need to understand why we are doing what we are doing, and that will determine the direction we take, to encompass the values of diversity, self reliance, interdependence, reciprocity, inclusiveness, dignity and ecological sustainability.