Dr. P.V. Satya Prasad is the Dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Humanities at Woxsen University. He brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the role of Dean, having earned recognition in the field of Liberal Arts and Humanities for groundbreaking research and a commitment to advancing knowledge. With an illustrious academic background and a profound passion for education, He has ascended to this prestigious position to guide and inspire the student community. Dr. Prasad was awarded with Ph.D. in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Central University of Nicaragua and his expertise lies in the areas of Print journalism, Media Ethics, Communication Theories, Media Studies, and Public Relations.

Woxsen University

You held key positions at various prestigious institutions throughout your career. What is that one thing that made you excited and walk with Woxsen in the journey?

The robust industry-academia interface in Woxsen University is the ultimate pull factor. I believe that the best way to learn is by doing, and Woxsen's focus on experiential learning is unparalleled. Through our industry partnerships, our students have the opportunity to work on real-world projects with leading companies. This gives them the chance to apply their classroom knowledge in a practical setting and gain valuable insights into the working world. As a result of this strong industry-academia interface, our students are well-prepared for the challenges of the 21st century workforce.

How do you balance the needs of faculty, students, and administration as a dean of a School of Arts & Humanities?

I believe that the key to balancing these needs is to be deft at multi-skilling, time management, and prioritizing. I listen to the needs of all stakeholders, prioritize their needs, communicate effectively, build relationships, and am flexible. By following these tips, I am able to balance the needs of all stakeholders and ensure that the school is meeting its goals.

As a Dean of School of Arts & Humanities, what is the USP or what are the differentiating factors that make Woxsen stand out from other colleges?

The USP of the School of Liberal Arts and Humanities, a lot of differentiating factors make the school stand out. Students get to choose not one but a minimum of two specializations and a max of three specializations. This gives our students the flexibility to explore their interests and develop a well-rounded education. International-student exchange program and dual-degree program with partner universities in Europe, Asia and the USA. This gives our students the opportunity to study abroad and gain a global perspective.

We have an international curriculum bench-marked with reputed universities from across the world and also from India. This ensures that our students are learning the latest and most relevant knowledge. We organize industrial study tours to give students hands-on experience of courses taught in the university. This gives our students the opportunity to apply their classroom knowledge in a practical setting.

How do you stay current with the latest trends and developments in the field of Arts & Humanities and incorporate them into the curriculum and programs offered by Woxsen?

We stay current with the latest trends and developments in the field of Arts and Humanities by constantly reviewing our curriculum and programs. Our expert faculty are always on the lookout for new and emerging trends, and they make sure that our curriculum reflects these trends. We also have an International Advisory Board (IAB) that comprises of academic experts from top universities from across the world. This board advises the school on emerging trends in different social sciences domains, and we incorporate these trends into our curriculum.

How well is Woxsen focusing on maintaining industry relationships with companies in order to leverage them for live projects, training, and placements for the students?

Industry-academia interface is the cornerstone of Woxsen University. We maintain strong relationships with companies to provide our students with opportunities to work on live projects, receive training, and secure placements. We have a Trade Tower on campus that acts as an incubation center for start-ups proposed by students. We also have an exclusive placement cell that handles and prepares students for placements toward the end of their graduation period. In addition to these initiatives, we also regularly host industry talks and workshops on campus. We believe that our strong industry relationships are essential in providing our students with the best possible education.

What is something an Arts & Humanities course aspirant can expect from joining Woxsen?

Aspirants to Arts and Humanities courses can expect a vibrant academic culture and extracurricular activities that will help them become well-rounded individuals and global citizens. They will have the opportunity to learn from world-class faculty, conduct cutting-edge research, and participate in a variety of activities. They will also have the opportunity to network with industry leaders and gain valuable experience through internships and fellowships. Additionally, they will be exposed to a variety of cultures and perspectives through our international exchange program.

What are the biggest challenges currently faced by Arts & Humanities colleges, and how do you plan to address them as the dean?

Challenges can be turned into opportunities. Parents’ mindsets are also rapidly changing with many students from various streams opting for humanities and social sciences degrees. The competition among students in terms of cut-off percentages to secure admission into humanities courses has been increasingly sharply demonstrating the growing popularity of social sciences/humanities as a popular higher education option.

How would you promote experiential learning and practical application of knowledge within the School of Arts & Humanities?

I promote experiential learning and practical application of knowledge within the School of Arts and Humanities by incorporating workshops, hands-on research projects, and activity-based teaching pedagogies into courses. I would also encourage faculty to incorporate these experiences into their courses through field trips, guest lectures, and internships. I believe that experiential learning and practical application of knowledge are essential for students in the School of Arts and Humanities, as these experiences will help them to develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in their careers.

What kind of steps Woxsen is taking in order to bridge the gap between academia and the real industry world?

We are taking a number of steps to bridge the gap between academia and the real industry world. We expose our students to live projects so that they can gain hands-on experience and apply their classroom knowledge to real-world problems. We require our students to complete mandatory internships so that they can gain exposure to the corporate world and learn the skills they need to be successful in their careers.

We conduct assessment-linked industry visits so that our students can learn about different industries and how they operate. Incorporating the emerging trends in different domains in the curriculum: We incorporate the emerging trends in different domains in our curriculum so that our students are always up-to-date with the latest knowledge and skills. We believe that these steps will help us to bridge the gap between academia and the real industry world and prepare our students for success in their careers.