Universities Must Prepare Students To Think, Adapt And Lead Responsibly: Dr. Brajesh Kumar Tiwari

Management education in India is passing through an important phase. Technology, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, digital finance, start-ups, public policy and industry expectations are changing the way students learn and work. In this changing environment, teachers and universities have a larger responsibility than ever before.

Dr. Brajesh Kumar Tiwari, Associate Professor at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee School of Management and Entrepreneurship, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, believes that management education must prepare students not only for employment, but also for enterprise, ethical leadership and social responsibility. Educated at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, where he completed his undergraduate, postgraduate and Ph.D. degrees, Dr. Tiwari later received a Post-Doctoral Fellowship from the University Grants Commission on the theme of Make in India. In this conversation, he discusses the future of management education, the role of teachers, the importance of skilling, artificial intelligence, industry participation and the changing expectations from universities.

Q. How do you define the purpose of management education today?

Management education should not be understood only as a route to corporate jobs. Its purpose is much wider. It should prepare students to understand organisations, markets, people, institutions and society. A good management programme must develop analytical ability, communication, financial understanding, ethical judgement and leadership. Students should be able to take decisions, work with teams, understand change and respond to real problems. The purpose of management education is not merely to produce managers, but to prepare responsible professionals and future institution builders.

Q. How do you try to make your teaching more useful for students?

I try to connect classroom teaching with practical examples. In subjects such as banking, finance, accounting and management, students learn better when they see the relevance of concepts in real economic life. I use examples from Indian banking, digital payments, start-ups, financial inclusion, public sector reforms, business practices and public policy. My focus is not only on explaining a concept, but also on helping students understand where and how that concept can be applied.

Q. Why is student mentoring important in management education?

Many students need guidance beyond classroom teaching. Some need support in communication, some in confidence building, some in career planning and some in understanding their own strengths. Mentoring helps students become more focused and responsible. In management education, this is especially important because students are preparing for professional life where they will have to deal with people, deadlines, uncertainty and decision-making. A teacher should help students grow academically as well as personally.

Q. How do you see the future of management education in India?

The future of management education in India will depend on how effectively institutions balance theory, practice and values. The old model of classroom lectures and written examinations alone is not enough. Students need exposure to real organisations, markets, communities, technology and entrepreneurship. They must learn how to analyse data, understand people, communicate clearly, take ethical decisions and adapt to change. Institutions that combine academic depth with practical learning will remain relevant.

Q. What should universities do to make students future-ready?

Universities must focus on capability building. A degree alone cannot make a student future-ready. Universities should provide internships, live projects, field exposure, industry interaction, research assignments, community engagement and start-up exposure. They should also strengthen writing, speaking, digital literacy, data understanding and ethical reasoning. The future will need graduates who can think independently, work in teams and solve problems responsibly.

Q. Do you think universities need to rethink their teaching methods?

Yes, teaching methods need regular improvement. Students today learn from many sources, but they still need academic direction. Universities should use case studies, presentations, discussions, simulations, field work, project-based learning and technology-supported teaching. At the same time, the human relationship between teacher and student must not be weakened. Technology can assist teaching, but it cannot replace the teacher’s role in mentoring, judgement and value formation.

Q. What kind of skills should management students develop today?

Management students need a combination of technical, human and ethical skills. They should understand finance, marketing, operations, human resources, entrepreneurship and technology. They also need communication, teamwork, negotiation, leadership and emotional maturity. Along with this, they must develop ethical judgement. A management graduate who is technically capable but ethically weak can create serious problems for organisations and society.

Q. How is artificial intelligence changing management education?

Artificial intelligence is changing the way organisations make decisions, understand customers, manage operations, assess risks and use data. Management students must understand AI not only as a technical tool, but as a force that is changing business models and organisational behaviour. They should know how AI can support analysis and decision-making, but they must also understand issues of privacy, fairness, accountability and employment. The future manager must know both the usefulness and the limits of technology.

Q. Should AI be taught separately or integrated into management courses?

Both approaches are needed. Students should get basic exposure to AI as a subject, but AI should also be integrated into finance, marketing, operations, human resources, entrepreneurship and governance. For example, in finance, students should understand how data and algorithms affect credit assessment and risk management. In marketing, they should understand customer analytics. In human resource management, they should understand the ethical use of technology in recruitment and performance evaluation. AI should become part of management thinking, not just a separate topic.

Q. What role can entrepreneurship play in the future of higher education?

Entrepreneurship has a very important role. It develops initiative, confidence, creativity, discipline and problem-solving ability. Not every student may start a business immediately, but every student can develop an entrepreneurial mindset. This mindset helps them identify opportunities, use resources carefully and take responsibility. In India, entrepreneurship is also linked with employment generation, local development and self-reliance. Universities should encourage students to think about enterprise creation as seriously as job seeking.

Q. How can universities promote start-up thinking among students?

Universities should create an environment where students can discuss ideas freely, work on problems and learn from failure. They need mentoring, incubation support, exposure to entrepreneurs, financial literacy, market understanding and institutional encouragement. Start-up education should not remain limited to motivational talks. Students must learn how to identify a problem, test an idea, understand customers, prepare a business model and manage money responsibly.

Q. What should be the role of industry in management education?

Industry should not come to universities only at the time of placement. It should become part of the learning process from the beginning. Internships, live projects, case discussions, guest lectures, mentoring, industry visits and curriculum feedback can make education more practical. Industry understands the changing needs of the workplace, while universities provide conceptual and analytical grounding. Both must work together for better student outcomes.

Q. Is curriculum revision necessary in management education?

Curriculum revision is necessary because society, technology and business are changing rapidly. However, revision should be thoughtful. It should not mean adding fashionable terms without depth. Core concepts must remain strong, but new areas such as artificial intelligence, digital finance, entrepreneurship, sustainability, financial inclusion, data literacy, business ethics and public policy should be meaningfully included. A good curriculum should prepare students for both present requirements and future uncertainty.

Q. How do you see the National Education Policy 2020 in this context?

The National Education Policy 2020 gives an opportunity to make higher education more flexible, multidisciplinary and skill-oriented. It encourages experiential learning, innovation, entrepreneurship and the connection of knowledge with real-life application. For management education, this is very important. Students should not study only for examinations. They should work on projects, interact with industry, understand communities, use digital tools and develop the confidence to solve practical problems.

Q. What should be the connection between management education and society?

Management education should have a strong social connection. Business decisions affect employees, consumers, communities and the economy. Therefore, students must understand financial inclusion, responsible business, public policy, sustainability, social entrepreneurship and community development. A management institution should not produce graduates who think only in terms of profit. It should prepare professionals who understand responsibility and long-term social impact.

Q. Why is financial literacy important for management students and society?

Financial literacy is important for everyone, not only for finance students. Understanding saving, budgeting, borrowing, digital payments, credit behaviour and fraud prevention is essential in today’s economy. Management students should understand these issues because they will work in organisations and also influence society. Financially aware citizens and professionals can make better decisions and contribute to a more responsible economy.

Q. What kind of university culture is needed for the coming years?

Universities need a culture of learning, discipline, openness and responsibility. Students should be encouraged to ask questions, read deeply, work hard and think independently. Faculty members should be supported in teaching, research and mentoring. Universities should also encourage collaboration across disciplines. The problems of the future will not come from one discipline alone. They will require knowledge of management, technology, economics, society, law, environment and public policy.

Q. What message would you like to give to students of management?

Students should remember that a degree is only the beginning. They must keep learning, reading and observing society. They should build communication skills, financial understanding, digital awareness and ethical judgement. They should also respect hard work and discipline. Success in management does not come only from ambition. It comes from preparation, patience, responsibility and the ability to work with people.

Q. What message would you like to give to young teachers?

Young teachers should keep learning and remain connected with students. Teaching is not only about completing a course. It is about shaping minds and building confidence. A teacher must read regularly, update knowledge, use practical examples and remain patient with students. The best teachers are those who combine subject knowledge with humility, discipline and commitment.

Q. What is your larger vision for higher education in India?

Higher education should create capable, responsible and thoughtful citizens. Universities should not produce only degree holders. They should produce professionals, researchers, entrepreneurs and leaders who can contribute to society. Education must improve employability, but it should also improve judgement, ethics and social responsibility. If knowledge does not serve society, its purpose remains incomplete.

Dr. Tiwari’s views reflect a broader understanding of higher education where teaching, mentoring, research, entrepreneurship, institution building and social responsibility are connected. For him, the future of management education lies in preparing students who can think clearly, act ethically and contribute meaningfully to organisations and society.