The sagacious leader not only chooses a career path to achieve something for herself but also to help society on a large scale. Carrying the motto of her institution which is ‘grooming leaders for the twenty-first century’ Dr. S Palaniammal has been empowering the student community for the last 36 years. She completed her Master’s degree in Mathematics during the year 1986, M.Phil. in 1988, and Ph.D. in 2006 and started her career as a Lecturer in Mathematics with Sri Krishna Institutions where over the year she held various teaching as well as administrative responsibilities. Her hard work and perseverance have become the inspiration for many students and faculties in her journey as an educationist.

Dr. Palaniammal S recently engaged in an exclusive interaction with Women Entrepreneur, here’s the highlight from the same.

Tell Us About Sri Krishna Adithya College Of Arts & Science. What Important Traits Of Your Expertise As An Educationist Would You Want Us To Bring Out In Our Article?

With the motto “Grooming Leaders for Twenty-First Century”, Sri Krishna Adithya College of Arts & Science was established in May 2015. Affiliated with Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, the college offers 20 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, 4 Doctoral Programmes Degree, and more than 3800 students, 143 teaching and non-teaching staff.

Gained 360-degree experience in the education field and widely recognized for the contribution to the field of Mathematics through various research and publications. The institution, under my administration, rose to greater success in offering standard quality education to students. I have implemented on-campus training for Professional Courses CA, CMA, ACS & ACCA, coaching for TNPSC and Bank Exams, and Skill Development Courses from the first year of their collegiate education. My guidance and encouragement ushered to have consistent University Ranks and Gold Medals every year. Industry Expert Lectures were conducted to bridge the lacuna between Industry and Institution. All these distinctive attributes earned unsurpassable placement record for the Institution every year and the competent leadership traits fetched an award for the Institution with “Excellence in Arts and Science” in Kongu Region by News 18 Television Channel.

What Motivated You To Become An Educationist And Tell Us About The Roles And Responsibilities You Shoulder Including The Challenges You Face And How Do You Overcome Those Challenges?

Although coming from a conservative locality, my parents supported my dream and helped me in becoming the first female graduate in my family and village. I give high importance to education because it has been the only reason behind my success that motivated me to become an academician. Imparting knowledge and shaping young minds became my passion and motivation to keep doing better. Both my teaching and diverse administrative roles have brought laurels to the institution and helped to groom mystudents into morally upright, intellectually luminous leaders with ethical values. Managing all the stakeholders such as students, parents, and staff are the biggest challenge, and to overcome this I practice to have open dialogue and decisive communication to understand their concerns.

My family, husband Mr. A.M.Balakrishnan is a business man dealing with pumps and motors; elder son B. Gowtham Prassath has completed post-graduation MS in Management from Eramus University and working as a Director in an MNC in Netherlands; daughter-in-law K. Radhika Devi is a MBBS and younger son B. Ajay Rahul is pursuing Mechanical Engineering from PSG College of Technology plays a highly influential role in helping me to shoulder these responsibilities in an amiable way, and all my ascending success I owe to them.

How Do You Ensure Effective Learning Outcomes In Your College? What Has Been Your Most Remarkable Achievement So Far And What Is Your Guiding Leadership Philosophy?

I have started various professional courses which eventually accelerated our students’ careers and initiated Entrepreneurship Development Cell, Career Guidance for higher studies, and signed MoUs with various acclaimed institutions at national / international level for hands-on learning experiences. Leveraging technologies such as Google-site, Google-classroom, Kahoot, and JAM board along with training provided by corporate entities made learning more perceptible for our students. We were the first institution to adopt online examination during the COVID outbreak which was later followed by many other institutions.

Along with serving as a member of various expert committees,I have been called to many institutions to share myexpertise. A total of 16 research scholars have completed doctorates and 9 scholars are pursuing Ph.D. at present under my guidance; published 172 papers in various National/International Journals and authored 8 books on Mathematics which are published by renowned publishers. I received grants from prominent organizations such as DRDO, CSIR, BRNS, MOES, and AICTE for the conduct of conferences and seminars.

“A Good Teacher Can Impart Education But A Great Teacher Can Impart Inspiration”

My guiding leadership philosophy iscultivating a positive learning culture and bringing the best out of my students and faculty; and building trust with all my stakeholders through explicit communication. I strongly believe that effective leadership is getting other people motivated and inspired to follow your lead; and I am proud that many of my students have me as their role model; and this expression of my students is a form of fulfillment and gratification for me as a teacher and a leader.

How Is The Indian Higher Education Going To Evolve In The Future? What Advice Would You Like To Give To Young Women Aspiring To Become An Educationist?

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought destructive complications to the global education system but also bring the scope of innovation. Indian Higher Education sector is undergoing a major digital shift and some of the institutions are also adopting a hybrid model. Keeping in line with National Education Policy, the Indian education system must develop a personalized and customized assessment tool to assess students, a training program must be created for teachers to help them adapt to changes and students must be upskilled in the field of analytical thinking and emotional intelligence in order to develop an equitable and just society.

A teacher is responsible to take the lead in bringing transformational changes to the education system and teaching is an empowering forum for women to celebrate their strengths and analyse their challenges. The platforms and techniques in the education system are rapidly changing since the outbreak of the pandemic and so do we have to upgrade ourselves accordingly. Considering all myexperience, I advise the women community that ‘Education is one thing no one can take away from you, and as a teacher, you can change the world by empowering the students.’

Dr. S Palaniammal, Principal, Sri Krishna Adithya College Of Arts & Science.

Having experience of 36 years, Dr. Palaniammal S with her expertise as an educationist helped her institution to raise educational standards and empower the student community.

 Awards of recognition:

• South Indian Women Achiever Award 2019.

• Best Educationist Award and National Mahila Rattan Gold Medal Award.

• Dr. APJ Kalam’s Best Administrator-2017 Award.

• Life Time Education Achievement Award from National and International Compendium, New Delhi.

• Rotary Vocational Excellence Award 2019-2020.