Rishi Acharya: Preaching Innovation in Education

In an Exclusive Interview with Insights Success, Rishi Aacharya, a Professor from P. A. Inamdar College of Visual Effects, Design & Arts shares some of his valuable insights pertaining to the journey he made into the Indian educational forum. Readers are being informed, this issue of the magazine has brought an inspirational story of a humble man making its way towards the glory of spreading wisdom with his knowledge.

1. Kindly brief us about you and your journey since the beginning of your career.

I come from a middle class family from Ratlam M.P. My father was a Senior Scale Finance officer in Western Railway and mother is a homemaker. I have 2 siblings. My school education was completed in a Hindi Medium School but the education and positivity our teachers had inculcated in us took me to where I am today. I have been very lucky to get a chance to participate in hundreds of competition during my school and college time and that gave me the power to prepare myself and to face the competition by developing winning skills.

Things like being the Monitor of the class, representing school in March Past, teaching juniors during free periods, giving hours and hours in school and college library to read the most influencing personalities life made a different foundation of mine.

During my school years I had developed a keen interest in Media and Animation, that was the time when animation series like He Man, Meena, Ghayab Aya and Mogli came on screen. I had a habit of reading a lot including classic stories. Unfortunately Ratlam was a small town and we did not have enough Animation and Media Institute so I came to Pune for learning Media, Design & Animation. I had completed my 2 year Animation course from Thumbnail Animation Studios Pune and went in to Production House. But later I realised that my interest is pulling me towards Education Sector and I joined India’s premium Animation and Media Training Institute “Arena Multimedia” Later in 2010 I got an opportunity from Dr. P.A. Inamdar, President of MCE Society Pune to start Animation Department in Azam Campus and since then my journey with P.A. Inamdar College of Visual Effects, Design & Art is an incredible affair.

2. How do you describe yourself in one-word or one-sentence?

Would like to call myself  A man of great dedication and unlimited love for my students.

3. What is your source of motivation & inspiration that drove you to become a Professor?

For my father being a Senior Scale Railway Officer, it was very easy for him to seed a dream in me of a Govt servant with 10am to 6pm Job but he always told me one thing that don’t dream small. Do not aim as “Naukari Karne Wala”( job seeker ) but become “Naukri Denewala”( job giver) . And those lines continued to inspire me to become an Eduprenure. My life took another turn when I met Dr. P.A. Inamdar, A man of uncomparable caliber, a visionary and a trendsetter of quality education for the masses.  His life, his struggle and sheer dedication to his mission is the very fuel of my motivation and drove me to take Animation and Media education outside the boundaries of traditional education pedagogy.

4. Kindly tell us about the challenges you faced to withstand the complexities of the educational forum.

When I got a task of starting a totally new Department of Media and Animation in Azam Campus It was a vacuum around me. I had no support, no team of colleague, no defined course or curriculum, no staff for marketing, nothing. It was just me and a ton load of tasks in front of me.

The first challenge came as proposing a complete Degree Course to academic council of the University and I was just 32. There were people with almost double of my age and experience. But I had no plan to escape and within 23 days I was ready with complete curriculum of a degree programme in Animation along with proposed Credit System, Evaluation Pattern, Study Material reference etc. The second challenge was to find out the right staff, getting them to understand my vision and plans. In next 2 months I was ready with my small team to fight the biggest battle of my time.  When we started that division in Azam Campus, Indian education sector was full with private animation brands. With Heavy investments on advertisements, strong networking of franchisee in almost all big cities in India, thousands of instructors Indiawide and massive infrastructure they were already pulling students towards them. And on the other side I was standing with my small team to catch the students attention for Degree Course in Animation with whatever little infrastructure I had.

But I was lucky to get enough support from my family and management in those days and in just 9 years from then when all these big brands are sinking in their franchisee numbers and students population Veda College is continuing its growth year after year.

5. Brief us about the current scenario of the Media and Entertainment Industry in India.

Media & Entertainment Industry is one the most growing Industry in India and Worldwide. According to IBEF The Indian Media and Entertainment (M&E) industry is a sunrise sector for the economy and is making high growth strides. The Indian advertising industry is projected to be the second fastest growing advertising market in Asia after China. At present, advertising revenue accounts for around 0.38 per cent of India’s gross domestic product.

– India is the first country to introduce Animation in screen advertisement. Quoting IBEF Reports “Indian media and entertainment (M&E) industry grew at a CAGR of 10.90 per cent from FY17-18; and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 13.10 per cent to touch Rs 2,660.20 billion (US$ 39.68 billion) by FY23 from Rs 1,436.00 billion (US$ 22.28 billion) in FY18. India’s media consumption has grown at a CAGR of 9 per cent during 2012-18, almost nine times that of the US and two times that of China. The industry provides employment to 3.5-4 million people, including both direct and indirect employment in CY 2017.

India’s online gaming industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 22 per cent between FY18-23 to reach Rs 11,900 crore (US$ 1.68 billion) in FY23”

This creates immense opportunities for creative students of India. We have a humongous base of stories and our mathological assets are uncomparable. Animation and Media education, unfortunately never become mainstream education in India even today. Most of the creative students and even their parents are not aware about the growth and opportunities in this sector.
But the good thing is now national forums like NASSCOM, FICCI and IBEF are considering Indian media,entertainment and gaming Industry seriously and Govt is now paying serious attention to this sector. There are many state and deemed universities which have started Animation degree and postgraduate programmes in India but still the supply is low compared to its demand.

6. What are the factors affecting the education industry in India?

Market Research, Competition ,Economic Environment,Social Responsibility,Cost(Fee & other expenses) and Benefit, Public Awareness & Opportunities after education are the major factor influencing any education industry. Animation & Media education also get the heat of it.

7. What advice you would give to the young entrepreneurs and new start-ups emerging in the industry.

I would like to stress upon one thing that is “Innovation”. Traditional means of education is becoming obsolete day by day. Connecting your pedagogy with new age tools and technologies is a must nowadays. The edupreneur must include holistic learning in their curriculum and break the boundaries of classroom based education. Creating online learning assets, digital assessments systems and including industry relevant certifications will be the keys of success.

In a growing trend of Industries, it is really hard for one to set a start up and grow it. There will be struggles while entering into education business but hard work and smart innovations clears all the obstacles of the way and puts you in the row of leaders. Always keep an eye on the future of the sector and keep the attitude of solution providers to the students.

8. How do you envisage your college’s sustenance in the future with respect to your personal growth?

In a very short span of time Veda College turned into the most preferred education destination for media and animation students. Veda College is providing itself as one of the most supportive that avails their students with the best education. The journey of the last 9 years was very rewarding. The Institution has also obtained ISO 9001-2015 Certification for keeping the quality of education on global standards. Under the leadership of Dr. P.A.Inamdar the institute has garnered several awards. We are the only animation and media college in the industry got “Guinness Book for Word Records” and “Limca Book of Records” for our social commitments.

Other industry accolades include “Dr.S. Radhakrishnan award for excellence in Education”, “ANIMDAY Awards from Animation Galaxy”, “Nuker of the year award for best VFX shot in Foundry Nuke”, “Indywood Excellence Awards for Best education”, “College of the year 2016”,

“Best animation degree college 2019 by ImagePlanet”, “Institute with best infrastructure in 2018

“Institute with best faculties in India 2019 by Global Triumph Foundation”, “India’s Top Emerging Education Brand by GTF Bangalore”.

These awards just fuel the desire to excel in future and to give the best to our students. The foundation and plans somehow relies upon the hope and institution of being India’s most successful and renowned animation and media education institution.

9. What type of courses you offer to students and how you are different than the other educational counterparts? 

The institute’s focus is on the mission of providing excellent practical training to the students backed with the fundamental knowledge of the art.  Because of its unique approach assignment and live project based studies , the Institute has become the first choice of Media & Animation aspirants in the city.  Some of the most Popular Programme of the institute are as follows

B.Sc Media Graphics & Animation

International Media Graphics & Animation Programme

Diploma in Film Making and VFX

Diploma in Game Designing

Diploma in 3D Animation and VFX

Diploma in 3D animation

Diploma in Graphics and Web Designing

Apart from these career oriented programmes the institute runs various short term career certificates to boost the creative quotient of students.

To our competitors we are way ahead in many senses, a lush green 24 acre campus in Pune city, equal attention to sports and physical activities, social drives, 1GBPS Hi-Speed Internet in classrooms and labs,

Fully WIFI Campus, Online Learning Facilities, Industry connections, diversified curriculum and state of the art VFX Studio makes Veda a matchless institution in the country.

10. What are your future plans? 

We are completing our 10 years in 2020, and It is a time of expansion. I have already developed a roadmap of next 5 years where Virtual and Online Education is going to be the Topmost agenda. We are looking for new entrepreneurs, education leaders to come and join us to take and spread our success in various parts of India. At present we have 2 extension centres in Pune and 1 in Lucknow. We are inviting proposals to open our extension centers and incubation units with various colleges, schools and private institutes in the country.

11. Other than your professional success what you enjoy the most?

I am a hardocre book lover and still invest 2 to 3 hours daily in reading. Reading for me is the way to meet some of the real changemakrs of the world. I have written 3 books which are now available on all big ecommerce platforms like Amazon, Flipkart and Shopclues. Writing naturally happens if you read a lot. I am a firm believer of communal harmony and interfaith studies and admit that this is the only way to progress as a country in the coming time.

Even after my busy schedule I make sure to go and meet students of various schools and colleges to guide them for 21st century career opportunities and help them to develop a winning mindset.