2018 Top 50 Undergraduate Professors: Amitabh Anand, Universite Cote d’Azur (SKEMA)

Amitabh Anand

Assistant Professor and Head of BBA – International Business Specialization

Universite Cote d’Azur, SKEMA Business School

Undergraduate students at Universite Cote d’Azur, France SKEMA Business School can’t stop raving about Amitabh Anand. This assistant professor & head of the program’s International Business specialization teaches courses in organizational behavior, human resource management, and doing business in Europe. According to one fellow SKEMA professor, students enjoy his classes most because of a micro-pedagogical method he deploys to ensure students learn with keen interest, both in and out the class. Students cite the rapport he builds with them as the reasons he’s so popular. In addition, he is well-networked and frequently brings industry experts to class. Above all, he has made his mark with his passion and kind attitude which attracts students and colleagues alike. For Anand — who says he listens to music before teaching each course — he feels his mission as a professor is accomplished when students can help their fellow classmates in learning and be bold enough to express their honest opinions.

Age: 35

Education: Bachelor of Engineering from V.T University, India, MBA in Leadership from Stockholm University, Sweden; PhD in Knowledge Management from NEOMA Business School

At current institution since: 2016

List of courses you currently teach: Organizational Behavior, Human Resource Management & Doing Business in Europe

Twitter handle: @Amitabh2Anand

What professional achievement are you most proud of? Securing full scholarship for my doctoral Studies, my first research publication in a Journal and Emerging Scholar Award in Germany

“I knew I wanted to be a business school professor when…” When I first shared my experience of doing MBA abroad with undergraduate students in 2008 and since then the journey started.

“One word that describes my first-time teaching…” Unforgettable experience filled with fun

What are you currently researching and what is the most significant discovery you’ve made from it? My research primarily focuses on sharing of knowledge among people in firms. Through various experiments I discovered and developed a model to understand, two important virtue constructs i.e., humility and generosity as essential pre-requisite for people to share their knowledge. Further, me and my colleagues also discovered, how sharing knowledge with pleasure locally can help sharing the knowledge forward globally.

What is your most memorable moment as a professor? When I read that, my teachings have made a positive impact on student’s career and when I got opportunity to address a major conference as a speaker and share a case written by me and my colleagues.

Since you first started teaching, how has business education changed? Through the development of latest technology tools, the access to information has become easier, and I could see technology certainly has positive impact on the business education, students and professors.   

“If I weren’t a business school professor, I would be…” I would be an Army officer or a Social Scientist

“Here’s what I wish someone would’ve told me about being a professor”: when to say “no,” how to say “no,” and why to say “no, or how to be diplomatic

Name of the professor you most admire and why: Mr. Lingappa, my undergraduate Math teacher for helping me score good grades, Mr. Manu Krishnamurthy, for teaching values on life and respecting nature, Sister Jeswina, for teaching importance of caring and sharing for people, Isabelle Walsh, an energetic professor for infusing research dynamism in me, Alice Guilhon for mentoring leaderships skills.

What do you enjoy most about teaching undergraduate business students? The mix of emotions, excitement about the course and expectation from the school, the curiosity and eagerness to learn, the anxiousness to score good grades etc. It gives me lot of inspiration to help and contribute for student success.

What’s the biggest challenge? Initial nervousness, lack of confidence, distraction from social media

What is the most impressive thing one of your undergraduate students has done? Prepared an impressive market analysis report for European cosmetic industry, which by far a benchmark report in my course.

What is the least favorite thing one has done? Plagiarism

Since you’ve been teaching, how have students changed over the years? From the beginning of the course to end of the course and some who take course in changing semesters, I see increase in their confidence level, improved communication techniques, good enterprising skills, humble attitude and showing the quality of being great business leaders

What does a student need to do to get an A in your class? Hard work in projects, being clear in context, giving innovative presentations and not to miss any of my class

“When it comes to grading, I think students would describe me as …” Transparent and Fair

If your teaching style/classroom experience had a theme song, what would it be? Justin Timberlake “Can’t stop the feeling”

Using just one word, describe your favorite type of student: Humble

Using just one word, describe your least favorite type of student: Arrogant

“If my students can help their fellow classmate in learning and be bold enough to express honest opinions, then I’ve done my job as their professor.”

Fun fact about yourself: I listen to music before teaching my course

What are your hobbies? Dancing, Motorsports and Cooking

How did you spend your summer? Exploring Europe and giving summer courses in Asia

Favorite place to vacation: Venice, Italy

Favorite book: The Theory of Everything and Academic Obscura

Favorite movie and/or television show: Movie-Dead Poets Society, Saturday Night Fever and TV Show-Younger

Favorite type of music and/or favorite artist: Jazz and Michael Jackson

Bucket list item #1:  Island of Bahamas

What’s the biggest challenge facing business education at the moment? Teaching virtues and values for students, constantly changing markets impacting jobs and career, lack of social, emotional and spiritual intelligence.

“If I had my way, the business school of the future would have much more of this…” Innovative curriculum focused on business and society, outdoor classes, challenging assignments from industry to help students solve in real time

“And much less of this…” bureaucracy and tough grading system

Looking ahead 10 years from now, describe what “success” would be like for you: Seeing success in my students, seeing my parents being happy about my success, sharing experiences by writing a book on determination and success and sharing my success forward.

Students say…

“Dr. Anand has been a great professor, without a doubt, when it comes to his class and his students. He is a teacher who sacrifices his time just to spend time with his students in order to understand better within his scope of knowledge. He has the idea of creating new ways to teach his students, in a creative way for them to comprehend better. His class is always full of curious students, who are hungry for more knowledge.”

“He is more than a professor, but a mentor to me. I still remember when he gave the lecture on human resource management. To help us make the most use of the class, his contents go way beyond what’s in the textbook. He used tons of examples to demonstrate the trend in this domain and encouraged us to interview people from international corporates rather than studying only theories. After class, he teaches us how to bargain with companies, and how to handle our interview and so on. During my four-year study at SKEMA Business School, I can think of no better professor but him.”

“In my opinion, an outstanding professor should be professional in his own major and understand students as well. Mr. Anand achieved two things at the same time and much better than a normal professor could do.”

“Mr Anand is one of the best professors I had during my undergraduate program thanks to his interpersonal skills. His teaching styles is really innovative compared to other professors and that is why he can have an impact on students’ life.”

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