As an astute academician and an ace administrator, Dr Anil Subba Rao Paila excels as he seamlessly flits through his dual responsibility with consummate ease and poise. He has carved out a niche for himself in fostering higher education in India. His strong commitment to advancing education, expertise to connect with industry and passion for student development make him a cogent force in shaping academic excellence and fostering innovation in learning. Dr Paila took over the reins of IMS Unison University as Vice Chancellor in March 2024
Dr. Paila enjoys a distinguished academic background, having worked for over a year as Pro Vice-Chancellor at Vijaybhoomi University and 15 years as Senior Dean and Director at Prin L N Welingkar Institute of Management Development (WeSchool) in Bangalore. He also brings over 13 years of corporate experience as Regional Head at Anagram Finance and later Vice President at Mahindra & Mahindra. His stint with the corporate world was very rewarding owing to his affable personality and commitment to his work. But, his innate passion for academics led him to leave the thriving corporate world at the pinnacle of his career.
As an exemplary student, he sailed through his academic career, notching up the incredible first position with merit in BCom, MCom, and MCM degrees. He is also a Chartered Accountant by profession and was awarded “The Chitragupta Award” for his outstanding performance in Management Accounting by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, New Delhi. His doctoral study on the Design and Development of Management Information Systems in Selected Industries earned him a Ph.D. in Management Information Systems (MIS).
Recognition kept raining on Dr. Paila as he received the most coveted award in Management Education in India, “AIMS Ravi J. Mtthai Award”, the BMA Best Director Award for 2022 from the Bangalore Management Association (BMA) in March 2022 and the Bangalore Education Society’s Leadership in Management Education and Advocacy Award in 2018.
His leadership blossomed as he steered WeSchool, Bangalore, to various accolades, including the AICTE-CII Survey of Industry-Linked Institutions 2016 and the Hindustan Unilever Limited Award for the Best Industry-Linked Emerging Management Institute. WeSchool was also the runner-up at the 10th National NHRD’s HR Showcase 2021 for its joint collaboration with Infosys and its impactful JMLP. Dr Paila successfully experimented with Executive Education at WeSchool, catering to 100+ clients, like Zydus Lifesciences, Apotex, Siemens Technologies, Mercedes Benz, and Adani Enterprises, amongst others, which he wants to replicate at IMS Unison University.
Recognition started pouring in when Dr Paila was unanimously elected as the National President of the Association of Indian Management Schools (AIMS) for 2017-18 and also made an Executive Board Member of the Association of Management Development Institutions in South Asia (AMDISA). He is actively involved with NHRD, CII, FKCCI, and AIM. He has been an avid Rotarian for the last 24 years. Dr. Paila attended the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Institute for Management and Leadership in Education (MLE 2018) and participated in the London Leadership Summit.
His effervescent personality helps him forge a network intuitively. Modest to a fault, Dr Paila thrives in giving back to society, creating leaders of tomorrow and mentoring indigent students. Most importantly, Dr Paila wears his success with dignity and grace. An aficionado of sports, Dr Paila, enjoys playing badminton every evening despite an excruciating and a hectic work schedule.
Dr Paila elaborated on his ideas in a free-wheeling interview with Insurance Times.
Excerpts:-
1.IMS Unison University has built a strong reputation in the higher education space in Uttarakhand. Could you share your perspectives on how you plan to take IMS Unison to the next pedestal?
IMS Unison University differentiates itself in the Indian higher education landscape through a strong commitment to quality education, a personalized student experience, and a modern, industry-relevant curriculum. IMS Unison University, Dehradun, has been a pioneer in management education since its inception in 1996. Many good practices have evolved and continue to evolve even today. The focus is on student success and student engagement using technology. Faculty capacity building has been a continuous process, and as a result, research prowess has improved, too.
The University continuously updates its curriculum to align with current industry trends and emerging technologies. Emphasis on subjects like Business analytics, Big Data analytics, and digital marketing ensures graduates are equipped for Industry 4.0 and beyond. Collaborations with industry bodies have seen tremendous traction with Yi, NHRD, PRME chapters, etc., empowering students to lead themselves as Global Citizen Leaders. The incubation Centre and Industry Innovation Centre’s activities have sensitized students and faculty alike, creating an incredible entrepreneurship ecosystem in the University.
Faculty Development Programs (FDPs) are focused on communication, pedagogy, research, global immersion, executive education and consultancy, thus fostering capacity building among faculty. Times are changing with technology, and hybrid/ blended learning is becoming the new norm for learners. Creating a compelling environment around blended learning with a focus on asynchronous learning content at the learner’s pace will be the journey forward for the University.
2. How does IMS Unison University differentiate itself in the higher education landscape in India, especially regarding quality education and student experience?
The IMS Unison University offers quality education through various programs across its six Schools in management, mass communication, law, hospitality, liberal arts and computer applications. Each School distinguishes itself by differentiating its offerings.
The School of Management (SoM) stands tall among the top B-Schools in the country, renowned for its consistent delivery of excellence in quality management education. Key features of the School include path-breaking pedagogy, blended learning, a continuously evolving curriculum, stimulating student club activities and initiatives, a corporate mentorship program, and a global immersion program. Skill enhancement programs for focused employability are another feature of this School. The School recently partnered with ISB Online to provide content to management programs based on the expertise of globally renowned ISB faculty.
The School of Liberal Arts (SoLA) offers its Bachelor program in six streams – English, History, Sociology, Psychology, Political Science and Economics along with a PhD program, which is carefully designed to foster analytical, synthetic, and assertive abilities in students, enabling them to engage deeply with India’s socio-economic, historical and political landscape within a global framework. The School’s social outreach programs are another cornerstone, allowing students to connect classroom concepts with pressing social issues. Through field activities and community engagements, students gain invaluable perspectives, enabling them to grasp the nuances of social realities and enhance their capacity for empathetic and impactful leadership.
The School of Law offers an industry-ready curriculum covering the core law along with communication and technology-related skills. Psychology and Foreign Language (French) are included to make the course more suitable for professional assignments. Several co-curricular activities, like Moot courts, Trial Advocacy, Client Counselling, and Mediation Competitions, are organized to foster competitive peer learning and are judged by accomplished luminaries. Active Legal Services cell provides free legal aid and awareness to the needy population in the locality.
The School of Mass Communication has state-of-the-art media laboratory facilities. It offers various specializations in the media domain, providing experiential learning and hands-on practices to journalism students. The School provides access to online and digital learning resources through modern technologies. The focus is on the holistic development of the students through activity-based learning.
The School of Hospitality and Management offers industry-based syllabi following the Choice-Based Credit Scheme. The curriculum emphasizes the theoretical and practical aspects of Hospitality Studies. Syllabi is prepared in consultation with industry professionals for contemporary training. The School has state-of-the-art laboratories, classrooms and support facilities. SoHM has established two culinary feats, included in Limca’s record book. The students of this School get regular global employment.
3. How do you ensure that the curriculum at IMS Unison University is aligned with current industry trends and expectations?
Curriculum alignment with the industry is a continuous process. IMS Unison University believes that best practices and the next practices of the industry should be continuously tracked with various interventions. Students have to be abreast of new skills required for survival in the business world. Regular representation of corporates, alums on the board of studies, advisory boards, and curriculum reviews by top faculty across universities in India maintains this alignment with corporate trends. Further, faculty participation in industry-related forums, conclaves, case writings, industry-led research, team teaching, and executive programs helps bring newness and alignment in classrooms.
4. With financial inclusion and awareness becoming critical components in today’s economy, how does IMS Unison University plan to address these pressing requirements by delivering courses to empower students with the required knowledge to contribute to broader financial literacy and inclusion efforts in India?
IMS Unison University embraces the essence of financial literacy and inclusion by integrating relevant courses into its curriculum, offering specialized programs, and providing practical learning opportunities through workshops, internships, and community outreach. It is taken into care to leverage technology to create accessible online courses and financial tools, establish incubation centres for innovative solutions, and support student-led initiatives. Engaging students in policy discussions and encouraging contributions to financial inclusion discourse through holistic research further empowers our students. By fostering a culture of financial awareness and inclusion, we equip students with essential life skills, enabling them to contribute proactively to the broader economic development of their communities and the nation. To meet these requirements, we offer subjects such as Personal Finance, Financial Inclusion, Behavioral Finance, Financial Markets and Institutions, Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management, Risk Management and Insurance, Corporate Finance, and Public Finance.
When we look at the Indian FinTech industry’s market size, we are encouraged to leverage this growth by preparing the right talent pool. Per the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), India will be the sixth-largest insurance market within a decade, leapfrogging Germany, Canada, Italy and South Korea. India’s InsurTech sector is expected to grow by 17% annually to reach $307 Bn by 2030. We plan to join hands with the Insur Tech Association of India to design cutting-edge curricula in the digital insurance landscape.
5. Is IMS Unison University planning to launch new Risk Management/ Insurance or banking courses, considering the burgeoning needs of the BFSI Sector? If so, could you provide a brief overview of measures that you intend to take to meet the growing needs of the BFSI industry?
Indian Fintech industry currently is US$ 111 billion and is pegged to be at US$ 421 billion by 2029. India has the 3rd largest FinTech ecosystem globally. The changes in the digital space are mind-boggling. India accounts for nearly 46% of the world’s digital transactions in 2022. A BCG predicts that the proportion of digital payments in India will grow to 65% by 2026.
Similarly, the banking sector is gearing up for improved risk management practices – for example, the KYC process has been streamlined using a ‘risk-based’ strategy rather than a ‘one size fits all’ approach. Indian banks are increasingly focused on adopting an integrated approach to risk management. The insurance sector in India has moved closer to a risk-based capital regime and is gearing up for IFRS 17 by adopting the new accounting standard, Ind AS 117. Insurance market in India is expected to reach US$ 222 billion by 2026. Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and AI will drive insurance growth. Bots will become a lifeline in both the front and back office to automate policy and claims management, creating customer delight. We are alive to changing dynamics and have embedded basic economic concepts, the role of banks, the stock market and the impact of various factors on personal finances, such as economic downturns, into our course delivery. We are on the verge of introducing insurance and risk management papers, both as core and elective papers, for MBA students. Slowly, we will expand the canvas.
We are curating a series of MDPs for banking and insurance sector professionals and developing cutting-edge executive development programs that leverage these opportunities. We are partnering with some of the most accomplished professionals and trainers to deliver these programs.
6. In addition to offering structured courses, does IMS Unison University have plans to foster entrepreneurship temperament among students, particularly those interested in starting their ventures?
The IMS Unison University is committed to nurturing an entrepreneurial spirit through its comprehensive Incubation Centre. This centre is a dynamic launchpad that transforms innovative student ideas into market-ready solutions by providing crucial resources such as initial funding, expert mentoring, and business planning support. Students gain access to state-of-the-art facilities, including media labs, shared workspaces, and specialized training programs across essential areas like IT, software development, financial planning, and design thinking. The University’s Incubation Centre strategically aligns with regional opportunities in Uttarakhand, focusing on sectors like adventure tourism, wellness, sustainable real estate, hemp-based products, and hyperlocal AI applications. This alignment is further reinforced through strategic partnerships with organizations like DIT, CII Yi, and GINSERV. The collaboration with DIT enhances the centre’s reach by incorporating regional knowledge resources and opportunities. At the same time, the CII Yi (Confederation of Indian Industry Young Indians) partnership provides students with access to industry mentors and advanced training sessions that enhance practical business skills. Additionally, GINSERV, India’s leading technology business incubator based in Bengaluru, provides students access to high-impact networks and resources essential for scaling tech-focused businesses. Through a structured approach, including boot camps for idea validation, lean startup methodology workshops, and industry engagement programs, the centre supports students in validating their business concepts and acquiring practical entrepreneurial skills. It further strengthens student ventures by facilitating connections with external investors, venture capitalists, and the University’s alum network while ensuring alignment with government initiatives like Startup India and the state’s Gross Environmental Product (GEP) Index. This holistic ecosystem positions IMS Unison University as a key player in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in Uttarakhand and beyond.
7. Will IMS Unison University incorporate emerging technologies such as fintech, insurtech, and data analytics into the course curriculum to prepare students for a tech-driven future?
IMS Unison University (IUU) is well-positioned to incorporate emerging technologies like fintech, insurtech, and data analytics into its curriculum to equip students for a tech-driven future. IUU recognizes the growing importance of these fields in the global economy and is actively adapting its programs to align with these trends. IUU The University regularly revises its curriculum to include courses that reflect fintech, insurtech, and data analytics advancements. The University ensures practical exposure through labs and workshops. With a research-driven approach, IUU encourages faculty and students to explore applications of emerging technologies in finance and insurance. Research and innovation at IUU could explore how data analytics, AI, and machine learning can transform financial services, fostering a culture of innovation among students. IUU emphasizes developing adaptable professionals who can thrive in a tech-driven environment. Tools like MySQL, Power BI, R language and Python promote problem-solving, critical thinking, and tech adaptability, continuously preparing students to evolve alongside technological advancements.
