We Aim to Develop Personalities, Enable Students to Confront Real-World Challenges, Says DLHS Head & Associate Professor

Dr Kalyan is a Media & Mass Communication educator with over 17 years of experience in academics. She played a key role in growing media and humanities programmes into respectable institutions at famous colleges. For a project supported by the UGC, she served as project manager. She has published articles in reputable journals and delivered research papers at numerous national and international conferences. She is currently the South India Lead for the JETREG Global Journalism Trauma Literacy Initiative. She works as a trainer for DataLEADS and the Google News Initiative India Training Network (Batch of 2022). Workshops designed by BBC News, Internews, and DataLEADS are delivered by a BBC Young Reporter India trainer (Batch of 2021). She has given several guest lectures and led workshops as a Media Literacy Trainer. As an academic expert, is a member of the Board of Studies and Board of Examination in several prestigious colleges and Universities.

Q1. What are the salient features of the teaching methodology adopted by your college? How does this differ from others?

A. At DLHS, we engage students with an immersive learning experience. This approach actively engages students in learning experiences that simulate real-world situations. The aim is to provide students with hands-on, experiential learning opportunities that deepen their understanding of the discipline and help them develop practical skills relevant to the industry.  We believe in andragogy, the most contemporary approach to adult education, that places greater emphasis on the process rather than the content. Case studies, role acting, simulations, and self-evaluation are all effective strategies. Instead of lecturing or grading, instructors take on the role of facilitator or resource. Innovative learning practice engages students by inspiring them to think beyond traditional careers and explore the range of possibilities that exists in one field or many. Some of the pedagogical approaches include - ICT/Digital resources, Experiential learning, Hybrid learning, flipped classroom, collaborative and cooperative learning, peer learning and teaching. Self-directed learning, one of our key pedagogical approaches, recognizes that students have control over their learning process and seeks to empower them to take an active role in their education.

Q2. How are you preparing your students to be Industry ready?

A. At DLHS, MAHE-Bengaluru, we believe in the role of the teacher being more of a facilitator and mentor.

Our emphasis is on equipping students with conceptual knowledge, analytical and life skills, as well as communicative proficiencies through a transdisciplinary approach. The objective is to facilitate students in developing their overall personalities and, enable them to confront real-world challenges with the appropriate attitude and aptitude.

Further, we have industry collaborations which foster broader exposure to students through guest lectures, interactions, field visits, workshops, and certificate courses from professionals from the industry.

Q3. What are the qualities you are looking for in student applicants? What qualities do they need to do well in your course?

A. Passion for liberal art is foremost important. If they have an acumen for creativity, a strong desire to learn, explore new ideas, and intellectual curiosity, liberal arts courses are for you.

As a student of Liberal Arts, willingness to consider multiple viewpoints and respect the opinion of others is important. Besides being a hardworking student, be a smart learner with an inquisitive mind, commitment, perseverance, and a never-give-up attitude.

Q4. How do you ensure that your course curriculum is up to date and meets industry requirements?

A. We have the best of the faculty team, who have designed and curated all the courses to meet international standards and industry requirements. We have the most accomplished academician and industry experts on our curriculum committee who give inputs and vet the curriculum. Some of the courses that we have curated are up and coming and are of utmost relevance to the job market. Niche courses like Sports psychology, Forensic psychology, Engineering Psychology, Environmental Psychology, etc. offer diverse career prospects for students of Applied Psychology. Courses like instructional design, content writing, Editing & Publishing, Health Humanities for English Honors students or User Experience/Market Research. Digital Marketing, Digital Media Entrepreneurship, and Content Marketing & Management courses for media students, are the most sought-after areas in the industry. We have integrated them into our curriculum and have made it as relevant and exciting as possible. We have experts from the industry to deliver these courses, which completes the synergy between the institute and the industry.

Q5. Is your college receptive to innovation, technology, science & entrepreneurship? How? Could you cite some examples of these?

A. Yes. We believe in a transdisciplinary approach. Fostering research skills in students through innovative pedagogical practices, and extensive use of relevant technological approaches in curriculum transactions are integral to all courses. To encourage entrepreneurship, we give ample exposure to students within and beyond the curriculum. To give a specific example, we have a course on Digital Media Entrepreneurship which aims at facilitating the requisite know-how and skills to explore entrepreneurial opportunities in the digital media space.  DLHS will be collaborating with MILES – Manipal Institute of Leadership and Entrepreneurship Skills for the incubation of media start-up projects.