Leadership in the Academic
World
S.C.Sahasrabudhe,
DAIICT, Gandhinagar
Definition: An Institution in the position
of Academic Leadership is one that
other institutions would look to for
guidance for their own advancement.
Attaining a Leadership Position is a
Multi-step Move
At First You have to become
A Truly Good Institution
Truly Good can depend upon:
1. Quality Programs offered, and levels at which
these are offered
2. Quality of faculty (and also their numbers)
3. Composition of the student body (only merit,
Geographical spread)
4. Quality and also quantity of Research (creation of
new knowledge, support from other
organization,..)
5. Impact the Graduates make in the world
Excellence- a Necessary Condition,
But NOT a Sufficient One
Research is the Primary function of a
UniversityCreation of New Knowledge and
Thought
How much Value do you attach to
Research?
Research Led?
Leadership requires an Ability to
Observe Trends AND Infer the Shape
of things to come
AND Act Accordingly
Willingness to Take Risks
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science - MIT
6.021: Cellular Biophysics
6.022: Quantitative Systems Physiology
6.023: Fields, Forces and Flows in Biological Systems
6.033: Computer System Engineering
6.042: Mathematics for Science
6.047: Computational Biology: Genomes, Networks, Evolution
6.061: Introduction to Electric Power Systems
6.101: Analog Circuits Lab
6.102: Introductory RF Design Laboratory
6.172: Performance Engineering of Software Systems
6.182: Psychoacoustics Project Laboratory
6.207: Networks
6.701: Introduction to Nanoelectronics
6.801: Machine Vision
6.802: Computational Systems Biology
6.804: Computational Cognitive Science
6.805: Foundations of Internet Policy
7.01: Introductory Biology
6.S077: Semiconductor Device Physics
18.01: Single Variable Calculus
S.B. in Computer Science and Molecular Biology
Leadership requires
A Relentless and an Uncompromising
Search for Talent
We MUST have Nakamura.
Go, Get Him!
UCSB Chancellor Henry Yang, said, "Nakamura has
achieved remarkable creative feats with the new
semiconductors based on gallium nitrides. What a pleasure
it is for UCSB to welcome such a world-class researcher
to Santa Barbara. The gallium nitride group here at the
College of Engineering--six outstanding professors and
their 30 brilliant graduate students--is truly top-notch; they
are pioneers among university researchers in making the
blue laser. Nakamura's joining our group is like mounting
the jewel in the semiconductor crown at Santa Barbara. I
would like to acknowledge the enthusiastic efforts of many
of our colleagues and friends of UCSB during the
recruitment."
Why did Nakamura Join?
Nakamura said that Santa Barbara's expertise in
gallium nitride material--making and devices is
key to his deciding to come to this University. But
his decision was two-fold. Before he chose a
particular university, he had to decide to leave
industry for academia.
Qu. Will We See Any Indian
University becoming a True Global
Leader anytime Soon?
Very Unlikely!
Forget it!
Readings
1. Becoming MIT, Moments of Decision,
Ed. David Kaiser
2. F. M. CORNFORD “MICROCOSMO GRAPHIA ACADEMICA”
BEING A GUIDE FOR THE YOUNG ACADEMIC POL
ITICIAN–
"A Study of a Tiny Academic
World" in Greek, 1910
Thank You
Do We Really Need Reforms?
YES!!!
Do We Need Reforms?
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It has worked for so Long!
I got my Doctorate this way! And,
May be, My Guide Too!
Why attempt something never attempted!
Want 100 more excuses?
A hilarious account is in reference 2
"The Thin End of The Wedge" and "The Dangerous Precedent":
Sample Quotes from Reference 2
•“Hence, learning is called sound when no one has
ever heard of it; and `sound scholar' is a term of
praise applied to one another by learned men who
have no reputation outside the University,”
•“The Principle of the Dangerous Precedent is that
you should not now do an admittedly right action for
fear you, or your equally timid successors, should
not have the courage to do right in some future
case,”
Vectors for Change,
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Who can bring in the Changes?
Only Faculty – They are in charge!
Actually it is of benefit to both, But
Fears – Ref 2, Cornford
What good is Ph. D. program (?), if the
guide does not benefit from the student’s
thinking.
Ref. 1