Leading IILM Lodhi Road: Dr. Harivansh Chaturvedi's Vision For Transformative Education

What motivated you to take on the role of Director General at IILM Lodhi Road?

I have amassed extensive experience both in government colleges and private institutions like BIMTECH. After 25 years at BIMTECH and various roles including Director at All India council for Technical Education (AICTE), I found myself contemplating my next move. Despite offers elsewhere, I chose not to leave Delhi NCR, where I've cultivated invaluable connections with policymakers and industry leaders over nearly three decades. My involvement with bodies like AICTE and international organisations such as Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) has further solidified my commitment to higher education. When IILM, a prominent institution in NCR with a rich history and national recognition, offered me the opportunity to lead, I was drawn to its strong faculty, supportive environment and strategic location at the heart of Lodi Road. Here, amidst significant governmental and academic institutions, I believe my contributions will be impactful and noticed, aligning with my long-term goals in education and policy.

How do you envision positioning IILM Lodhi Road as a leader in education under your leadership?

Under my leadership, I aim to position IILM Lodhi Road as a beacon of mature, ethical and holistic education in India. Indian higher education requires leaders and institutions that are committed to values beyond just infrastructure and regulatory compliance. While infrastructure like labs, libraries and quality faculty are essential, true educational excellence encompasses much more.

At IILM, we will emphasise ethical standards, honesty, integrity and cultivating values among our students. Education should not be prejudiced or commercialised and it should foster a holistic view that includes respect for India's rich cultural heritage and diverse religious traditions.

Our vision includes strong industry linkages and connections with top academicians. IILM will be a mature voice in shaping India's educational future, advocating for responsible business practices aligned with global standards, such as the UN Global Compact and the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME).

We are committed to ensuring that our students understand the importance of ethical business practices, respect for human rights and environmental sustainability. By adhering to these principles, we aim to produce graduates who are not only industry-ready but also conscientious global citizens.

What are your immediate priorities and goals for IILM Lodhi Road in the next 1-2 years? 

In the next 1-2 years, our primary goal for IILM Lodhi Road is to strengthen and expand our partnerships with European business schools. As one of the oldest institutions in our group, established in 1983, we have a history of successful collaborations, such as our partnership with Bradford University for BBA and MBA programmes. Now, we aim to sign more MOUs with international universities to facilitate greater exchange of students, faculty fellowships and collaborative research projects.

We recognise the need to align our research efforts with global challenges. Currently, in Delhi, two pressing issues are environmental quality due to crop burning in neighbouring states and traffic congestion. Our goal is to motivate our faculty to focus on practical research addressing such local and global problems.

Additionally, we are keen on exploring solutions for mobility management. With over three crore people living in Delhi, effective public transportation is critical. Compared to developed nations like Singapore and the UAE, our transport facilities need significant improvement. The adoption of electric vehicles is one potential solution, but it requires substantial support, such as the development of charging infrastructure and public confidence in the technology. We look forward to working with the government to promote policies that encourage the use of electric vehicles and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.

How do you plan to enhance academic excellence and student outcomes at IILM Lodhi Road? 

Academic excellence in management education is largely driven by adherence to regulatory standards. The AICTE sets the minimum standards for management education. Institutions must comply with these universal standards to maintain quality.

In India, there are resources available to improve infrastructure and faculty quality, which is crucial but challenging due to the scarcity of good faculty in the vast number of B-schools. We are committed to faculty development to attract top-notch admissions and professors who have taught at prestigious institutions like IIMs and SP Jain.

Currently, a renowned professor from IIM Ahmedabad is mentoring our faculty. He regularly conducts workshops and helps us benchmark our curriculum against top institutions. While we have many young teachers, our focus is on grooming, developing and motivating them to achieve excellence.

What strategies do you have in mind to strengthen industry-academia partnerships and collaborations?

I joined on July 1 with a vision. Upon examining this idea, I realised the potential for building a robust network. Since then, the faculty at IILM Lodhi Road have become very active in various industry networks. 

Delhi hosts hundreds of these networks and I encourage both faculty and students to capitalise on these opportunities. Living in Delhi provides an edge, making our students potentially smarter than those from other cities. 

How do you plan to leverage technology and digital transformation to enhance the learning experience at IILM Lodhi Road?

I believe it is essential to work closely with both faculty and students to improve teaching both inside and outside the classroom. AI, particularly tools like ChatGPT, can be extremely helpful in this endeavour. Many students are already familiar with ChatGPT, but we must also educate them about the potential negative consequences of its misuse. 

AI is a powerful tool and a boon to society, but if misused, it can have significant negative impacts, especially on young people. Therefore, I advocate for integrating AI into our institute's pedagogy. Every faculty and staff member, including myself, should learn to utilise it effectively. Personally, I have found AI helpful for drafting speeches, preparing for interviews and other tasks.

Just as the internet has become essential, learning disruptive technologies will be incredibly beneficial. However, we must ensure that humans control these technologies and not the other way around. The human brain remains more powerful than any technology.

Mayank Badhwar

BW Reporters The reporter works as Senior Correspondent with BW Businessworld