Dr. D. Thirumala Rao is the Vice Principal (Academic) at Indian Institute of Management and Commerce. He received Doctorate Degree in 2017 from the Department of Commerce, Osmania University, Hyderabad. He earned an M.Phil. in 2006 from Madhurai Kamaraj University and also has an M.Com. and an MBA in Finance degree. He has over 24 years of experience in the teaching field.

Indian Institute of Management and Commerce - [IIMC]

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

I have a passion for teaching that has connected me to educational institutions. I'm keen on bringing quality to the students. I believe that education is not just about reading books, writing examinations, or getting percentages. It is about bringing overall and holistic development to the students. Teaching proper behaviour, attitude, body language, gestures, positive thinking, and communication skills are also skills that I enjoy teaching my students.

What is your vision for this college? How do you plan to lead the institution towards achieving its academic and administrative goals?

We get a lot of support from our management, Prof. V. Viswanadham, Chairman and Sri. Challa Prasanna ,Hon.Secretary & Correspondent. They advise, encourage, and guide us in all our endeavours, both academic and administrative. Sri. K Raghu veer Principal is been working for the institution since 44 years with passion and dedication. We have committed staff members who are always on the job to provide qualitative education to the students. IIMC is always striving hard for quality education, giving the opportunity to upgrade faculty qualifications, student quality and success, which brings laurels to the institution and also to our students. That's what IIMC aims for.

What would you like people to know about your college they may not know? 

Recently, we went through the third cycle of the NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council), wherein we got an A+ grade. We have also completed the ISO certification process for quality management sustenance and now we are certified ISO 9001:2015 College. Our college’s aim is to promote overall development among the students by conducting various programs, and nurturing them through training and student development programs. Our main motto is that no student should be unproductive, for which we conduct programs like guest lectures, seminars, conferences, and symposiums. We also have campus recruitment training for placements and extension programs for NCC and NSS.

What factors make the programs of your college a best choice for students?

Our vision is to bring good citizens to the country, for which students must be on par with industry and academic demands. For this, we conduct guest lectures in addition to the regular curriculum and hold personality development programs. Beyond the books, we offer guest lectures on banking, financial markets, insurance, human resource management, marketing management, and entrepreneurship development. We have conducted over 200 programs alongside our regular curriculum courses. When students are not students, they are encouraged to take part in extracurricular activities and events.

How would you ensure that the college stays up-to-date with the latest developments and trends in the management and commerce education sector?

During the course of our academic year, we invite eminent personalities, speakers, and experts from universities and industry. They hold special classes and lectures on the latest industry developments and trends. They also inform us on how and what to update our curricula with.

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What steps would you take to promote extracurricular activities and ensure a holistic development of students?

We have NCC and NSS at our college, where we train the cadets to go through training programs. Several of our students have also participated in the Republic Day parade. We also conduct NSS camps in villages and promote social events there, such as clean and green programs, adult education, awareness programs for health and hygiene, and cleaning the roads. We have also adopted two villages, Kachvanisingaram and Prathapa Singaram to support these efforts.

How did you train yourself/faculty to deliver this program to the students?

We provide every opportunity for our faculty members to participate in training programs. I joined the college ten years ago and got a lot of exposure. I have received a lot of encouragement from our management team, which has helped me grow a lot. The college organises a lot of faculty development programs throughout the year, which are not just for the teachers but also for the administrative team as well. Our teachers also take part in research in their fields and are encouraged to network extensively to help themselves and the students in turn.

Any insights into how your Institute could be more welcoming to students of different races or economic backgrounds?

Everyone today thinks that educational institutes are merely there to make money. However, it is far from the truth for us. We at IIMC educate two to three students every year for free. We also provide scholarships and other financial aid for our students. Students can also pay their course fees in installments. Students who score more than a 9.8 CGPA and above get MONETARY REWARD from college. We provide all the aid and support possible for the students to succeed in their jobs and higher education.

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

Rather than bookish knowledge, students should have practical knowledge as well. I wish all the students would adopt the old culture, old is gold and take it with the new culture to succeed in their careers. Do not sacrifice your principles in pursuit of your goals. Be environmentally friendly, keep learning, and network with the right people to help you when needed.