The Higher Education Review

Indore based Shri Vaishnav Vidyapeeth Vishwavidyalaya has roots in one of the oldest educational establishments in the country. The year 1884 is the landmark, as the foundation stone was laid for Shri Vaishnav Group of Institutions by compassionate mill owners and cloth merchants of Indore, which was later rechristened as Shri Vaishnav Sahayak Kapada Market Committee in the year 1934. Shri Vaishnav Shekshanik Avam Parmarthik Nyas was established under the able guidance of Shri Vaishnav Sahayak Kapada Market Committee in the year 1981. Since then, Nyas has been working relentlessly for the upliftment of the society and country as a whole by providing better technical and professional education, health facilities, schools and other services.

Established in 2015, the newest entry in the multi-disciplinary university is Shri Vaishnav Institute of Journalism and Mass Communication (SVIJMC). With a view to promote excellence in the area of journalism and mass communication education and to prepare future media experts to meet the challenges of the globalized world, the institute provides a dual degree program B.A+M.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication and a postgraduate programme - M.A in Journalism and Mass Communication. "Looking at the need of the media industry two new programmes namely a dual degree program B.A.+ M.A. in Hindi patrakarita and postgraduate degree programme, M.A. in Hindi Patrakarita will be launched from July 2018," shares Dr. Upinder Dhar, Vice Chancellor, Shri Vaishnav Vidyapeeth Vishwavidyalaya.

SVIJMC is committed to quality education as first priority, thus, ensuring the academic rigor. Along with academic endeavour, institute-industry interface is also promoted. As a result, guest lectures are a regular feature and overall personality development of the students is the foremost priority of SVIJMC. The institute

has made consistent efforts for bringing in refinement in everything that concerns academics. Dr. Dhar says, "Research is one of the top-most priorities, because it is believed that generation of new knowledge enriches us with freshness and empowers each individual to overcome obsolescence. Students are motivated to explore each and every aspect of journalism and mass communication and they are encouraged to experiment in the field of writing articles, reports, advertisements, scripts, Videography and photography as well."

"SVIJMC has made consistent efforts for bringing in refinement in everything that concerns academics"

The present campus of SVIJMC exhibits modern architecture, wherein students, research fellows, faculty and staff have an opportunity to use state-of-the-art library, top class IT infra and excellent auditorium. "We are committed to see our vision materializing in the creation of new paradigm of knowledge and research. Apart from the syllabi, various extracurricular facilities help to shape the students into responsible leaders for a sustainable future," claims Dr. Dhar. To understand the new media, the SVIJMC organizes a national media conclave Pravaah every year, in which media practitioners and academicians throw light on the contemporary issues of New Media and technology in the industry.

Keeping the Knowledge Delivery Fresh and New
"The time has gone when students used to opt for the traditional courses only. Now, students select the courses according to their interest and aptitude. Journalism and Mass Communication provides them the freedom to convert their hobbies into the jobs such as writing, photography, editing and many more," opines Dr. Dhar. SVIJMC updates the syllabus on regular basis. Hence, the institute has designed the syllabus in such a way to fulfill the theory as well as practical aspects of the course. "The syllabi are designed by the three expert panels namely Board of Studies, Faculty of Studies and Academic Council. Apart from these panels, expert from the industry and practitioners also provide valuable inputs for updating the syllabi," explains Dr. Dhar.

SVIJMC selects the students on the basis of the university entrance test followed by rigorous counseling by the experts, which makes the students aware about the scope of job opportunity and progress in the media field. Faculty has a mix of academics and industrial experience for providing practical exposure to the students. "We innovate and take risks, because we believe in experimenting. This is principally the driving force behind our work and we intend to trek the path to share excellence. We keep an eye and sense the growing need of every media sector to furnish multi skilled workforce. We offer a number of innovative courses accordingly to the world," summarizes Dr. Dhar.

Shri Vaishnav Vidyapeeth Vishwavidyalaya continuously tires to understand the demand of human resources in the media industry, and design new programmes accordingly to meet the requirements. The institute continues its march towards excellence with rigor, zeal and enthusiasm constantly streamlining, updating and innovating delivery of professional education. SVIJMC looks at new horizons and envisages the fulfillment of its dream to become a benchmark in media education nationally and internationally.

Dr. Upinder Dhar, Vice Chancellor
He has conducted management and faculty development programs for the executives of major business houses and faculty members of academic institutions respectively. He has also been Guest Faculty for the MDPs at IIM Calcutta and IIM Indore. Besides undertaking consultancy assignments, he has authored/co-authored more than 600 publications. Thirty-four scholars have been awarded Ph.D. degree under his supervision by various universities. Dr. Dhar was awarded National Fellowship by Indian Society for Training and Development in 2002-03. He has been on the Panel of Reviewers of number of journals, such as International Journal of Training and Development, Human Resources International, Journal of Global Business and Technology, and South Asian Journal of Management.