"WE NEED PROFESSIONALS TO NAVIGATE UNCERTAINTIES"

Drawing from the experiences of legacy B-schools and universities, several new-age institutes in higher education space are writing the rules of the game on a new slate. One such entity, which originated as a B-school in 2014, is Woxsen University. CEO Vishal Khurma, in a chat with Meha Mathur, shares a broad vision of the university, which is in tune with present-day industry needs.

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What are the emphasis areas for new-age B-schools? And for new-age universities?
The world is fast changing towards data-driven decision making, rather than taking decisions based on gut feeling. Also, corporates are looking for professionals who have a little bit of a global context. And globally, we are in a highly VUCA world. We need professionals who can navigate these uncertainties. And it is not only about data. It is about drawing the insights from the data.

The corporates also feel that the professionals today are not really up to the mark when it comes to in-demand skills which are required for becoming a good global professional. When you talk about global professionals, the first thing which comes to mind is leadership and persona. You need to exude the confidence that you would be able to navigate the business through tough waters. And how you will be able to take the team along with you while you navigate the challenges which are very complex. This is what a B-school should be preparing the students for.

While there is emphasis on a data-driven approach, at the same time there’s a lot of emphasis on human element. IITs also have departments of Humanities and Liberal Arts now. What do you have to say about that?