Interview with Dr. Ashok Kumar Mittal, Chancellor, Lovely Professional University: Education Post

Dr. Ashok Kumar Mittal, Chancellor, Lovely Professional University (LPU), Punjab, dives into the philosophy and vision behind one of India’s largest and most dynamic higher education institutions in an interview with Education Post’s Prabhav Anand. He emphasizes the university’s guiding principle, “Think Big,” which fosters an environment where students are encouraged to dream big and achieve even bigger goals. Dr. Mittal discusses LPU’s commitment to integrating technology with traditional teaching methods, promoting interdisciplinary studies, and ensuring students are industry-ready.

Q. As the visionary founder of Lovely Professional University, could you share the guiding principles or philosophy that have driven your remarkable journey in shaping one of India’s most dynamic higher education institutions?

Our philosophy is simple: “Think Big.” We always foster an environment where students are encouraged to dream big and work hard to achieve even bigger goals. Since we entered the education sector, we have aimed to provide an educational experience that goes beyond the confines of the traditional curriculum. As we interact with industry leaders, we have developed a dynamic, outcome-focused, industry-based academic model. With our high-class academia, we nurture creativity, innovation, and ethical values in our students. This has been the key to our transformation into one of the largest and top-ranked universities in the world.

Q. With the rapid evolution of technology and its integration into higher education, how do you see traditional teaching methodologies adapting to ensure students are adequately prepared for the challenges of the modern workforce?

As I said, we believe in transforming education through academic rigour, practical orientation, and outcome-based teaching, so we have seamlessly integrated technology-enabled teaching and learning methods. We ensure that our students develop not only subject expertise but also critical thinking, problem-solving, and adaptability skills for success in this rapid evolution of technology. Every student not only makes notes in the class, but it is also compulsory for them to make a project or app related to their study. For this, they meet industry experts and seniors and do research work that helps them understand the new technology and changes. I think in this way with the adaptation of traditional technology.

Q. In light of the global emphasis on interdisciplinary studies, how does Lovely Professional University foster an environment that encourages cross disciplinary collaboration and innovation among its students and faculty?

We understand the importance of interdisciplinary studies in this complex real-world challenge, so LPU has an Innovation Hub Centre, and the Department of Research and Development is the place where students and faculty from diverse academic backgrounds work together on different projects and research. Through different projects, competitions, and hackathons, we encourage innovation, creativity, and the exchange of ideas among the different area students. For example, the solar bus project involves the collective efforts of students from different programmes like engineering, design, and computer science for ideas and expertise.

Q. Addressing the issue of employability, what steps has Lovely Professional University taken to bridge the gap between academia and industry, ensuring that graduates are equipped with the skills and knowledge required by employers in today’s competitive job market?

A significant gap that demands attention is the mismatch between graduates’ skills and the requirements of the job market. Many graduates struggle to find suitable employment due to this disparity. To this end, we have established strong collaborative links with leading organisations across sectors. We started the industry-aligned curriculum, training, industry expert lecturer seminars, etc., which prepare students to be adaptable and lifelong learners.

Like in the era of AI technology, the rate of placement of engineers, data, and computers is rapidly decreasing, but I think when we make our students experts in AI, they can easily get jobs. We also have a dedicated placement cell, which provides guidance to the student in their career placement and preparation.

Q. The issue of affordability often arises concerning higher education. How does Lovely Professional University address this challenge, particularly for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, to ensure accessibility without compromising on the quality of education?

LPU is committed to making quality education accessible to all. We offer a range of scholarships, a financial aid programme for sports, academic and physical disabilities for students. We organise the LPUNEST entrance test for admission. According to the mark percentage, we give scholarships to students.

Q. With the emergence of online education platforms and MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses), how does Lovely Professional University strike a balance between traditional classroom-based learning and incorporating digital learning tools to enhance the educational experience of its students?

The digitization of education has been a big changer for the learners as well as for the educational institutions. We leverage online education platforms and MOOCs to supplement traditional teaching methods, providing students with access to a diverse range of learning resources. This has opened up tremendous opportunities for learning beyond the traditional classroom setting through personalised learning experiences. Online programmes closely mirror their offline counterparts, allowing seamless integration of updates and changes. Like LPU Online, it focuses on delivering comprehensive degree programmes. That ensures the highest standards of academic quality and content currency. This blended approach empowers our students to leverage the best of both traditional and digital learning.

Q. In light of the recent debates surrounding academic freedom and autonomy, how does Lovely Professional University safeguard academic integrity and encourage intellectual diversity and critical thinking among its students and faculty members?

LPU believes in academic freedom, integrity, and intellectual diversity. We have created a counselling and support cell for the students, with the help of which the students can discuss with them if they face any kind of problem. The Academia Cell ensures the integrity of the research and patents conducted by the students and faculty. An innovation department has been formed to promote critical thinking among the students and staff, in which they discuss their ideas with the team and then work on them.