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Jameel Shaik
Jameel Shaik

Jameel Shaik

Faculty at School of Bio Sciences and Technology (SBST), VIT University, Vellore

VIT University

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Unique way of teaching
Teachers should be allowed to work without any interference - this is already being done at universities like VIT - of course, rigorous quality-checks on education too are in place in these universities. Having said that, students must be made 'industry-friendly' and 'industry-ready' - this is possible by imparting practical knowledge to students. Project-based learning is another innovative thing adapted at our university. The syllabus/curriculum should be highly flexible changing with every semester to be in tandem with the latest trends in education, research, and industry. Flipped class-room learning is another trend catching on wherein education is delivered beforehand to the students, i.e. before they come to the classroom via video lectures by subject-experts, ppts, etc. The classroom could be utilized to solve real world and practical problems. Innovations like these are usually met with resistance from students but they should be clearly explained about the accruing benefits.
About Me
I have an undergraduate degree in Homeopathic Medicine Surgery from India and a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Louisiana Tech University, USA. After obtaining my degree in homeopathic medicine, I worked in a private hospital for about two years and then operated my own clinics in my native place for about three years before deciding to go to the United States for my PhD. My younger brother was instrumental in convincing me to do my Ph.D. in the US and therefore both of us obtained our Ph.Ds from the same institute. After returning back from the US in 2007, I became a faculty member of School of Bio Sciences and Technology, VIT in 2008 and have been working there until now. The teaching experience here has been good. In my 5 years here, I have taught both grads undergads. My dream is to start an affordable, integrated health-care platform. I would like to apply my areas of expertise - Homeopathic medicine, Nanobiotechnology, Biomedical engg. in medicine allied research areas.
Outlook about increase students’ participation
Students are the bed-rock of any nation. They should steer clear of politics especially communally divisive forces and instead concentrate on their studies. They should be their own role-models by trying to be the best in word, deed, and action and not adapt any 'pseudo' models who are ready to distort even blatant truths and manipulate media and other resources for their personal agendas and gains. Students should definitely participate in voting. They should consider politics as a career but remain honest and scrupulous in their dealings with the public. Salaries of politicians should be good. They can form strong alumni networks both locally and nationally to create a pool of honest and eligible individuals to stand in the elections. Social media tools should be vigorously used to achieve this. Every degree holder, not just MBBS degree holders, should put in compulsory service of at least six months in rural/semi-urban/mofussil areas in any capacity according to their qualifications
Most Challenges facing by students
Corruption at all levels. This is the root cause of all troubles. It rears its ugly head in one form or the other and creates problems. Students should be vigilant always to avoid this at any cost!
Important Lesson
Be ready for change any time in your life especially in these days of financial volatility. I was running a homeopathic clinic when my younger brother suggested I go over to the US to join him and do a PhD there. I was 29 years old when I decided to go to the US but I took the decision to go because I had been interested in going there for my undergraduate studies itself. But unfortunately things didn't work out at that time. So when the opportunity came, I grabbed it. Besides, studying homeopathic medicine opened new horizons and vistas in my mind and I became interested in biomedical engg. when I was working in different hospitals.
My inspiring personality
Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him and all other prophets sent by ALMIGHTY ALLAH). ALLAH says in the HOLY QURAN that HE sent prophets to every community in this world so many of the great and illustrious mythological personalities could have been prophets sent by ALLAH. I love Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) because there has been none like him that has walked this earth. He was the perfect husband, father, statesman, general and several other things. But the greatest thing about him which inspires me is his decision to forgive his own people (Quraysh who tortured him) when he along with his army conquered Mecca after several years of exile in Medina in Arabia. Mind you, this took more than 1400 years ago but muslims like me are still in awe of him and hold him in the highest regard right after ALLAH. He respected all religions and truly so as he was sent as a solace to the whole mankind. He was the Seal (Last) of the Prophets and he completed the religion. Last, he loved Hind.
Way to motivate Students
I am a voracious reader - I devour lot of information especially on the net. I always try to connect the latest developments with regard to any subject I am teaching students to keep the students up-to-date. Plus, it helps retain the interest level of the students in the class. I try to attend the continuous faculty development programs taking place in my university. For example, few years back, I took a 9-days free entrepreneurship development (among students) program along with my university's colleagues as well as colleagues from other universities and colleges. I took this program to inspire among my students a burning zeal of starting something on their own. My university, VIT has a very strong placement record in the whole of India, probably the very best. Most of the students join software companies and few join core companies too. But there are students who want to do something on their own. I am always on the look-out for such students and try to encourage them to go for it.
Favorite Non-Academic books
Several are there - in my youth, I used to mostly read novels but I also used to read several 'self-help' books and also classics. But the best in my opinion are the Holy Quran as it is a direct word of ALMIGHTY ALLAH and shows man how to lead his complete life. Also, the sayings and the life of the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) are called Hadith. These supplement the Holy Quran. I always feel solace in these two sources - Quran and the Hadith. I have read other religious books too and I respect all of them.
Outlook about way to raise quality education
Increase the quality of teachers by properly training them in teaching and research, invest heavily in research, decrease red-tapism and corruption, and increase the number of both government and private universities. Research funds should be increased to good and performing universities like VIT with a provision for the faculty for getting additional salary from the research grants. This would act like an incentive and stimulus for the researchers in doing good research which in turn would definitely reflect upon teaching. Teaching and research are two sides of the same coin and they go hand in hand with each other. If one side is weak, the other one too automatically suffers! Publication in high impact-factor journals and international patents should be encouraged in all colleges and universities involving as many faculty and students as possible in this endeavor. Only then, India can become a superpower by 2020. India has always been a gentle giant and should remain so but vigilant!
Most Rewarding Moment
When students recommended by me get the best research experience offers and grants. Recently, one of my recommended students received the prestigious Erasmus Mundus scholarship award for higher education and my joy knew no bounds! It is during such moments I feel I never was a 'carpet-bagger' and took the right decision by entering teaching and research.
Family Background
My father joined the Indian Railways at the age of 19 years and he served it honestly and faithfully till his retirement at the age of 60 years. I have several relatives including my maternal grandfather and great grandfather who served the Indian Railways. My paternal grandfather joined the Indian Police Force as a sub-inspector in 1944 (ya, the Britishers were still there) and retired in 1967 (I guess and hope I am not wrong about the year) as a sub-inspector only. That probably speaks volumes about his honesty and sincerity. His father too was in the police force as a head constable.
Coming back to my immediate family, my father went to evening college and finished his B.A. from Shivaji University, Kolhapur, Maharashtra (he was first posted there and survived the Koyna earthquake of 1967). He later did his M.A. and LL.B once again from Evening college but this time from Karnatak University, Dharwad, Karnataka. I have only one sibling - an younger brother with a PhD in Engg.,Science
Future of Indian Education System
This is the E-Age and as the name suggests, Electronics is dominating every field including education. In the last few months, several major universities in the US including the Ivy league universities have jumped onto the Massive Online Open Course (MOOC) bandwagon. In today's world, Smartphones have become ubiquitous. I feel the day is not far when even degrees will be offered via smartphone applications - traditional colleges and universities will probably be still there but students might want even education delivered to smartphones/tablets/laptops, etc.
Having said this, I feel teachers will have more opportunities but they would have to adapt themselves to the changing times. Education is definitely not about 'spoon-feeding' all the information to the students. One has to create the conditions required for students to learn and then the students would be glad to acquire it. Online education will be available 24x7x365 - so it will be education anytime via every available way!
My priorities
According to the time/deadline - whether it is a class, a school task, a meeting with my student/s, a research manuscript or research grant to be submitted, etc. But family comes first. Of course, this is quite a bit of juggling but I think I am learning with time and hope to do better!
My Advice
Be honest with yourself first and with everyone else you deal with, especially the students. Today's students are very intelligent - they have all the information they require available to them online, in books, etc. What is required is they should be directed towards the resources by generating an interest in the subject. Of course, we should provide them the main points and the basic skeleton/s in any subject we teach but we should involve them to the extent possible so that they become well-versed with the subject. In all this grind, remember to have a sense of humor - it will help you in surviving the toughest moments!
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