Dr. Ritu Gandhi Arora is currently working as Officiating Principal at DAV Institute of Management, Faridabad. A prolific educator, trainer, researcher and writer with a number of publications to her credit, she has a rich experience of more than twenty four years including two years in corporate. Also, she is an Editor-In-Chief of one UGC Listed refereed Journal “Virtue” and is also on the Editorial and Advisory panel of various international and national Journals, and government and non government organizations. Prof. Arora has been extensively conducting workshops and corporate training programmes.

DAV Institute Of Management

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

“At par satisfaction and connection with students”

Being an academician and administrator, I get an opportunity to meet so many young professionals having varied dreams and high aspirations from life every single day. It keeps me connected with my past as a student. I find this is the only way to contribute to the growth and development of a nation and being a custodian of the society. It is this sense of fulfillment that makes education the best sector to work in.

How would you describe your leadership style?

“Working together and collaborative decision making”

Leadership is action, not position. Each individual is different from the other, so the style of leadership varies from situation to situation. All my team members are competent enough to take decisions that are in the best interest of the institute and I endorse them or correct them if required. I readily take responsibility for their mistakes and don’t forget to give credit to the deserving when it is a success. I have been successful in disseminating the idea that each employee is important and deserves best treatment in any case. 

How do you strategize the key plans for the marketing of your Institute?

“Enriching students with quality facilities for good word of mouth”

I believe that employees and students of any institute or industry may prove to be the best Brand Ambassadors. The best marketing strategy is to provide them what others are not providing to their students. In DAVIM, we believe in the philosophy of “Earn while You Learn” to support the same - we have industry integrated courses like BBA in which students can gain two years of industry experience alongside three years of a regular degree. Moreover, this degree helps them to grab admission in foreign countries where they require at least two years of industry experience for post-graduate courses.

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How has the Covid-19 situation impacted teaching in your Institute?

“Delayed changes and adapting to online tools”

The Covid-19 situation has not impacted us much, as far as teaching pedagogies are concerned. Our faculty adapted themselves rather quickly in the changed scenario. No doubt it was a tough phase for the students, considering online learning was a newly introduced ball game; but our dedicated faculty tried their level best in making our students proficient in using and adapting these mediums. However, the significant impact has been on the examination cycle, which has further led to a delayed session for commencement of new batches and hampered the admission process.

What do you see as DAVIM’s greatest strengths?

“Ordinary People Performing Extraordinary Feats”

The greatest strength of DAV Institute of Management lies not only in its established reputation in the industry with over a century-long brand name, its healthily shared governance, or its many accredited programs but rather in its dedicated expert faculty and staff support, its strong alumni base, and student community, its campus characteristics and most importantly, its proactive partnership with the industry to provide the best facilities and exposure. What makes DAV stand apart as an organization is the education framework at DAVIM well rooted with its Anglo Vedic culture where we nurture students by keeping the best of East and West. The qualitative aspect has been built into the teaching curriculum, along with cultural activities and a faculty-student interaction leading to a friendly and safe environment for one’s growth and holistic development.

What are some of the biggest challenges you see for higher education?

“Relentless well-being and growth of institution”

Persistent growth and expansion while accommodating change is very important for an institution to grow. It is a major challenge today, indeed, to reach up to the level of the industry expectations and the challenge posed by the economy as a whole to sustain amidst competition with relevance to current changing needs. Meeting current expectations of industry by constantly upscaling the skillset and providing the best to our student community; meanwhile keeping the faculties spirits high and inspired to keep going in this tough scenario amidst this virtually oriented culture are the challenges currently. 

Any suggestions you would like to give to the current youth?

“Listen to your heart, and be compassionate and social”

When you do what your conscience says, you will always succeed at every front and will have satisfaction at the end of the day. Imagination is the mother of innovation and necessity leads to invention. Money is important but it should not be earned at the cost of others. We all should train our brains to think differently and our hearts to develop some compassion for the people in need. Our youth has to realize the fact that our well-being lies in the well-being of the society we are part of.

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How do you prepare your students for higher education?

“Good teachers produce great students”

The relationship between teaching and learning is fundamental to higher education. The premise of higher education is that teaching by highly educated individuals engaged in ongoing learning of their own produces a valuable opportunity for students to learn essential knowledge and skills that will prepare them for life and career. Faculty knowledge, skill and attitude, and the subsequent changes in their teaching result in student’s growth and development.