Dr. RL Raina is working as the Vice-Chancellor at JK Lakshmipat University. He has 30+ years of teaching experience. Earlier he was working as a Professor at IIM Lucknow. Dr. Raina has written 22 best-selling books, 243 papers in peer-reviewed journals and conference/seminar proceedings, and most recently 33 magazine/ newspaper articles on higher education under COVID 19 scenario.

JK Lakshmipat University

How has COVID impacted the education industry?

"The time phase allowed bringing global educators"

COVID pandemic has posed a variety of challenges to the education industry which it has ably converted into opportunities. With the suitable augmentation of IT infrastructure (in hardware as well as software), training of faculty, concerned support staff, and students, the online teaching-learning process is now accepted as the new norm. Going forward, hybrid mode (online as well as offline) of education delivery is what the industry has to equip itself for. 

How would you describe your leadership style?

"I believe in leading from the front"

Leading from the front and by example in all areas of work with my teams at the leadership, faculty, officers, and staff levels, is what has worked for me. Trust and confidence backed by the delegation of authority with responsibility have been my ‘mantra’ to work with my colleagues. 

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When you first came to the institute what was your vision for the university?

"To be one of India’s most innovative institutions of higher learning" 

 To realize this vision, we have been working on:

  • bringing in and constantly building on the element of ‘quality’ while reimagining and redesigning education in all its components, the curriculum, the pedagogy, and the assessment/evaluation mechanisms;
  • attracting, grooming, and retaining quality faculty and other talents;
  • augmenting infrastructure (academic as well as support) conducive to new age technology teaching-learning environment;
  • building meaningful partnership with benchmarked national and global academic partners; 
  • national and global level accreditations; and
  • developing close connections with the industry, the government, and the think-tank.

What challenges did you face during the COVID phase?

"Immediate transition was not without bumps"

With immediate corrective steps like training of faculty, support staff, and more importantly the students supplemented by suitable IT augmentation, JKLU bounced back with the online teaching-learning process. Yes, students, mostly from remote areas, are still experiencing some difficulties with internet access and I am quite confident that with time this issue also will be tackled quite fast. 

How will you reduce the gap between students and professors in our education ecosystem?

"By breaking the virtual wall between them"

Good students take less time than their teachers to understand them. Students of today are quite informed, sensitive, and mature to understand what, why, and how their teachers teach them and assess and evaluate them. Hence, teachers need to walk-the-talk to come closer to their students. 

How does the curriculum of your university make students industry-ready?

"The world of business and jobs are changing rapidly"

Our committed faculty body, seasoned members from industry and academia in our Boards of Studies, Academic Council, and Academic Advisory Board ensure that our curriculum, teaching methods, and learning outcomes are preparing our students for the industry not only for now but also for a foreseeable future. Our application-based learning model focuses on providing opportunities to learn-by-doing- through our state-of-the-art labs, practice schools, studios, capstones, internships, and practice schools. 

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What will be your advice to aspiring students for their future?

"Give your best, and always listen to your heart"

Nowadays, students get confused while choosing their options for higher education. This is largely because of the pressure on them to be successful at a very early age, coming from their parents, relations, peers, society, and other quarters. 

Forgetting and foregoing what they are passionate about and where their potential lies, they start exploring opportunities towards faster methods of becoming successful. This leads them to choose the wrong path. I advise students to choose what is right for them. They should try to choose that career in which they have an interest.