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Professor
J.P. Singh - speaks out
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29th
September, 2004
JIMS, Rohini
Professor
Jitender Pal Singh: he is not just a teacher, but an educator,
highly respected among his students who look upon him for
inspiration. Wherever he taught, left imprints on the minds
of students. Famous for his interesting classes, he is considered
one of the very few teachers who actually command respect.
Prof. Singh is currently teaching at Jagan Institute of
Management Studies, Rohini.
Let’s go across to Prof. Singh and ask him about his experiences
at IP University.
IPUniversity.com: Good afternoon sir, let’s start
from the beginning of things. When did you join IP University,
at what level in which college?
Prof. Singh: I joined IP University in September
1999; I initially joined GNIM as a visiting faculty in the
department of Mathematics. With passage of time the college
groomed a lot and produced good results. My first experience
was with the students of BIS (H); which now has been eliminated
by the University and has been converted into BCA.
IPUniversity.com: Prior to IP University, did you
teach at any other University?
Prof. Singh: Can’t say that I taught at some other
University, but had some experience at Private Institute
of Manipal University; then some Institutes of Delhi University,
not as permanent faculty but as guest faculty member, provided
I got subjects related to Mathematics.
IPUniversity.com: How would you rate IP University
as compared to the other Universities?
Prof. Singh: IP University is a growing University.
It is growing very well for the last 6 years. Lot of effort
has been put in by the University, but still they are lagging
behind. They need to improve in different areas, for example
communications area. If you compare IP University with Delhi
University, IP University is far behind. Delhi University
has got the status of International University whereas IP
University hasn’t got any such status.
IPUniversity.com: You have seen IP University grow
over past 5 years. It was being dubbed as a hoax upon its
launch some 7 years ago now. People were saying that it
will never be able to get to DU’s stature. Even today, IP
University is the last resort for many people; they come
here only after they don’t get admissions at DU. What are
your views on this?
Prof. Singh: There is no doubt that the University
is grooming, but to get to the status of Delhi University,
it will need plenty of time. There are so many things that
are required, the University must have good communication
with the various affiliated colleges; the affiliated colleges
themselves must have some kind of communication with each
other. For example: if a college is at Rohini and another
is at Vikaspuri, the faculty of one college does not know
what the faculty of the other is teaching. This is a Major
problem. The students do not have the information that they
need from the University. Students sometimes ask what the
qualifying criteria are for the degree of BCA, how many
grades are required for the passing etc. This is a common
problem that lots of students are facing. But the fact is
that the University is growing and with the passage of time
they are learning and heading in the right direction.
IPUniversity.com: Do you think that IPU can challenge
the status of DU in the coming years?
Prof. Singh: IP University has recently got collaboration
with some foreign Universities, which is a good sign. Comparing
it with Delhi University, IP University can get to that
stature but, plenty of work needs to be done in the right
direction with the help of the students, because students
are a prominent factor and play a vital role in the development
of any education institute. What I think is that the University
needs to collaborate with the students, take them along
and then proceed, it will definitely be a much better step.
I have no doubt about it.
IPUniversity.com: You have become quite an integral
part of IP University over a short span of time. Do you
think IP University has been able to fulfill what it promised,
i.e., quality technical education of world standards?
Prof. Singh: To some extent they have, but all the
things that they promised have not been met yet. Initially,
the University was giving affiliation to a large number
of Institutes, some of which were located in small buildings
and the students had to suffer. But now the scenario has
changed, the University is trying very hard to provide good
quality education to the students, but still they need lots
of improvement.
IPUniversity.com: What do you think is required to
take the University from its present status to excellent
status?
Prof. Singh: As we have got a Sales Law in economics,
the same is here. Whenever anything is available in scanty,
the demand will be larger; and if anything is available
in plenty, the demand will be lesser. The same is going
on here. A number of institutes have been affiliated to
the University and a large number of students are there.
At the time of admission the student is confused as to which
institute he should take admission to. Another problem is
lack of administrative department. For example: the students
get to know their practical dates 2-3 days before the practical.
The University should be more systematic and organized.
At least the date sheet should be given 30 days prior to
the exams so that the students can make the schedule and
prepare accordingly. Moreover, all the practical dates etc.
should be pre-decided. The university decides these dates
3-4 days before the exams are conducted and the students
have to suffer due to this.
IPUniversity.com: There is another problem. There
is no medium of interaction among students of different
colleges of IPU. One college is located in Rohini, another
one in Kalkaji, another in Vikaspuri and so on. What, according
to you is the importance of interaction in today’s world?
Prof. Singh: It is true that there is no interaction
among different institutes. Initially, the institutes used
to hold some meetings where coordinators of different colleges
participated, discussed syllabus, what should be taught
in the classrooms etc. Definitely interaction is required
within colleges. The students of one college do not know
what is going on in other colleges. Two professors are teaching
the same subjects at different institutes with different
aspects, because there is no interaction between them. There
must be a cell or meetings should be arranged at least once
a month where the coordinators or the faculty can come together,
so that the students must be benefited. The University’s
motto is “Student’s must be benefited”. Like we say in economics
- “Consumer is the King”, here I can say that “Student is
the king”.
IPUniversity.com: There is one more aspect to this;
with so much competition, in a world where you need to be
connected to everyone at all times to keep yourself up to
date with the latest developments in the world, especially
if you are student in some technical field like engineering
or MBA, don’t you think that it is very important for all
the colleges and students of IPU to be connected to make
the best of what is being taught to them by interacting
with each other? Don’t you think that the students can learn
even more and better if they have more regular interaction
sessions with students of different colleges?
Prof. Singh: Definitely, interaction is required
but there are so many colleges affiliated to the University
and all the colleges are private because of which one college
does not know what is going on in the other colleges. Even
the students never get a chance to interact with the students
of other colleges, only by chance if they are friends, they
come to know what is going on in that college, else no such
relationship exist. Definitely the colleges must come together
with joint efforts so that the students can have a mode
of interaction and get benefited from it. I feel if meetings,
events or functions are organized regularly the students
will come together, interact with each other which will
help in developing their personality. Moreover, interaction
plays an important role in placements. Placements are very
important to the students who are pursuing a technical course.
If regular interaction is there between students, then the
students can go for campus placements. So, interaction is
required at all levels.
IPUniversity.com: The website, IPUniversity.com,
is being conceptualized and launched by the students of
IPU, what are your views on this venture?
Prof. Singh: I think it is a good move. I’m sure
that the students will be hugely benefited form this site.
I know lots of students who are lagging behind because they
do not have the right information when it is required. If
I was in your position, I might have thought about this
concept so that the students could be benefited. But it’s
a great thing that this company and the ex-students of the
University are doing for the welfare of the students. I
hope that your website becomes very popular and the students
benefit a lot form it.
IPUniversity.com: Thank you for giving us so much
of your valuable time Prof. Singh.
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