Dr. Samuel Rao is the current Vice Principal of Vidya Bhavan College of Commerce and has completed his PhD in Banking & Finance from Savitribai Phule Pune University. He has also served as General Manager at Spicer Industries and Assistant Professor at Spicer Memorial College before becoming Assistant Professor at Vidya Bhavan College of Commerce, Pune, in August 2012 and is now Vice Principal.

Dr. Samuel Rao has published a research paper/ article on Mainstreaming the Margins through Self Help Groups at the International Research Journal of Commerce and Management in 2014, Sustainability of Self Help Groups in Pune District for the International Journal of Business, Management, and Social Sciences in 2014, and Surge Pricing for Cab Aggregators in Pune City for Education Today in 2021.

Vidya Bhavan College of Commerce

You have held key positions at education institute throughout your professional career. What are the key factors that keep you connected with the education sector?

There are certain key factors that govern the way I teach my students. It is not just about the role or position but also about getting close to the students. Doing so will help the students be more engaged with academics. Being involved with academics and seeing my students learn and succeed keeps me connected with this field. I enjoy teaching, and that is what keeps me connected to academia.

Being the Vice Principal of Vidya Bhavan College of Commerce what is your leadership philosophy? How would you describe your leadership style?

At Vidya Bhavan College of Commerce, my leadership style revolves around adopting a decentralised way of functioning. I like to communicate in a way that might not be looked at fondly on certain occasions. I believe that an educational institution cannot function like a corporate institution. I believe that true leadership lies in empowering others and fostering a collaborative environment where everyone has a voice. I encourage active participation and engagement from all members of the college community, so it is a participative leadership style that you have heard about.

The education systems in India and other foreign countries are structured very differently. In your experience, what can an inbound student gain from studying here in your college?

The education system abroad and the education system in India are definitely different. I have acquired degrees from abroad and two from the Indian system. I feel that internationally, the teachers cater to a smaller crowd of students, whereas here there are more students in one class. So, they can individually cater to a student, so it becomes very student-centric. There, to acquire higher education, you need to pay more, but here you get supplement subsidies and grants.

Being the Vice Principal of Vidya Bhavan College of Commerce how do you address the job placement and career guidance needs of commerce students, and what support services are available to help them succeed in their careers?

We call industrial experts to give lectures on various topics related to what is required in the industry at present, and we also make sure that we are tied up in the industries. We acquaint the students with what is required in this world. We also have industrial visits where students get to see and experience first-hand the work they will do. We have placements at our college where we call industrial experts to hire eligible postgraduate students in their third and final years.

What strategies would you implement to enhance the quality of education and ensure student success at Vidya Bhavan College of Commerce?

The strategies that I implement here at Vidya Bhavan College of Commerce are for students to develop a more skill-based education. We have a tailor-made format from the university that we need to follow, but we also have a skill-based system where the students can acquire multiple skills. I focus not only on commerce but also on where and how we can acquire these skills. These skills are essential when looking for jobs and thriving in the workplace. Employers especially look for these skills, so, it becomes very important for us to cater to those needs.

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How does the curriculum of Vidya Bhavan College of Commerce ensure the best practice of students studying here?

At Vidya Bhavan College of Commerce, we follow the syllabus or curriculum that is given to us by the university. We are affiliated and not an autonomous institute. Whatever is followed here, courses and instruction material have been designed by the university. Besides this, we give students skill-based complementary courses that they can opt for, to enhance their studies.

Any suggestions you would like to give to the current youth and the aspiring students who would like to make a career in Commerce?

In general, commerce is an incredibly promising and versatile field that offers multiple opportunities for individuals from diverse educational backgrounds. I graduated with a Science background, but I ended up with a Commerce background. There are job opportunities in both fields. What is important is that the students need to concentrate, focus, and put all of their efforts into what they are studying.

Can you share your perspective on the importance of co-curricular activities and their role in shaping a well-rounded education for students?

Co-curricular activities are very important because they develop leadership styles. Vidya Bhavan College of Commerce has an academic unit that not only focuses on academics but also co-curricular activities. Here, we have a student development cell where the student is given opportunities to take leadership roles in areas of their choice and gets a chance to develop skills like teamwork, communication, and taking initiative. They learn to be confident and can then easily translate these skills to the workplace later.

Can you share success stories of your college's alumni and where they are placed after completing their course from Vidya Bhavan College of Commerce?

Whenever we have an alumni meet, we see most of the students are at Manager Level or working as Captains in the armed forces. Students passing out from Vidya Bhavan College of Commerce have been placed in different positions according to their interests and have achieved a lot of success. Infosys, Tech Mahindra, WNS, ICICI Bank, Amazon, Emmay HR, IBM Daksh Business Process Services (P) Ltd., Global Talent Track Pvt. Ltd., Concentrix Pvt. Ltd., etc. are the names of a few companies that have visited Vidya Bhavan College of Commerce for placement.

What strategies would you employ to address any challenges or obstacles that arise in the day-to-day operations of the college?

One of the major challenges we face at Vidya Bhavan College of Commerce is in teaching, where there is a lack of qualified teachers. Our college tends to hire commerce background teachers, making it difficult to find properly qualified teachers. This poses a significant task for us, as we must make the best use of the teachers we have and provide them with the necessary training when needed. In addition, we emphasise sharing knowledge and expertise among the faculty members to compensate for the shortage of qualified teachers.