“Rendezvous with Dr. Justin Paul”
Team
MBA Rendezvous
recently spoke to Dr. Justin Paul, Dean - School of Business
Management & Provost – Management Education, NMIMS. The discussion
centered on visions for transforming NMIMS into a globally renowned
institution, emphasizing academic excellence, innovation, and fostering
research skills. Following is an excerpt:
Dr. Justin Paul
holds three doctoral degrees- from University of Brighton, England,
Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay and an honorary doctorate from
Calcutta and three Master/PG Degrees/Diploma and a Bachelor Degree
with a Gold Medal. He comes with 16 years of overseas experience as a
tenured full Professor of Marketing and International Business at
University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR, USA & a 3 year visiting
professorship at University of Reading, Henley Business School, UK. He
has been serving as Editor-in-Chief of International Journal of
Consumer studies (IJCS), consumer research journal with the highest
impact factor in the world with an A Rank since 2020. He has served as
Director- Research, Director of Dual Degree MBA Program, Department
Chair, Chair- Library & IT committee, Faculty council Member
secretary, Chair-Faculty Selection and promotion committees at
different universities including Nagoya- Japan, UPR- San Juan, USA,
IIM Indore, University of Agder-Norway. Among the world's top 82
Highly Cited Researchers in Business and Economics subject areas (Web
of Science- 2023 Press release) with citations growing @ record rate
of 950 per month, he is a scholar with an H-Index 84.
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He has served as a full-time faculty member with the Rollins
College-Florida, University of Washington, and Nagoya University of
Commerce & Business- Japan, in the past. He is well known as an
author/co-author of books – Business Environment (4th edition),
International Business, International Marketing, (2nd edition)
Management of Banking & Financial Services (2nd edition) and
Export-Import Management (3rd edition) by McGraw-Hill, Pearson &
Oxford University Press respectively. His articles have been
downloaded over 1,000,000 times, which rank him among the most
downloaded academicians in the world. He is an author of over 200
articles in SSCI listed journals. Dr. Paul introduced the Masstige
model and measure for branding, CPP Model for internationalization,
SCOPE framework for small firms, 7-P Framework for International
Marketing, COPS Framework for managing complex organizational
problems, ADO, TCCM Frameworks and SPAR-4-SLR protocols for literature
reviews.
He has taught full courses at Aarhus University- Denmark, Grenoble Eco
le de Management, EM Strasbourg-France, University of Washington
Foster School of Business, Universiteit De Versailles -France, ISM
University-Lithuania, Warsaw University-Poland and has been a regular
visiting professor/ an invited speaker and trainer at Vienna
University of Economics and Business, Deakin University- Australia,
University of Queensland, University of Chicago, UAE-Barcelona &
Madrid, VSE- University of Prague, IE Business school- Madrid, Fudan
University-Shanghai, and UIBE- Beijing. He has been a keynote speaker
in more than 100 conferences all over the world and visited over 500
universities including Harvard Bus school and MIT Boston and over 100
countries for invited speeches and presentations. He has conducted
corporate training many times for managers and diplomats in UAE, Oman,
Mauritius, India, USA, Europe and Africa and has served as Director of
such programs.
Dr. Paul serves/has served as Senior//Associate/Managing Editor with
the Journal of Business research, International Business Review,
European Management Review, European Management Journal, Journal of
Strategic Marketing, Services Industries Journal, European Bus Review,
Journal of Retailing & Consumer Services, Small Business Economics,
European Journal of International Management, & International Journal
of Emerging Markets. Dr. Justin has been distinguished as 'Young
Achiever' by 'The Hindu' newspaper, and as 'The Global Professor 'by
Mathrubhumi. He holds / held honorary or distinguished or Professor of
Eminence visiting positions at several universities including-
Lebanese American University, University of Economics and Human
Sciences- Poland, IIM Kozhikode, MS University- Tamil Nadu, SIBM-Pune,
Parul University, Gujarat.
He is also known as an author of 4 Case studies published by
Ivey-Canada distributed by Harvard Business School. He speaks English,
Japanese, Hindi, Malayalam, and Spanish.
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Team MBA Rendezvous - What is your vision for the institute’s future? And what led you to your current role as the Dean of the School of Business Management and Provost of Management Education?
Dr. Justin Paul :
After returning to India with 16 years of experience working in esteemed institutions in the US, Japan, and the UK, my vision is to build Indian institutions as globally renowned educational institutions and attract students from across the globe to India. A challenge faced by many Indian business schools, including IIMs and NMIMS, is attracting a significant number of international students. Before setting out on a global adventure to extend my horizons, I worked as an IIM faculty member from 2004 to 2007. However, the privilege of working at Universities in Japan and US including Washington, Florida and Puerto Rico, for over a decade exposed me to best practices in education worldwide, and I subscribe to the philosophy of “Learn the best from the WEST, unlearn the worst from the WEST, and implement the best practices in the Indian education system.
Team MBA Rendezvous -
What specific initiatives are you implementing to achieve these goals?
Dr. Justin Paul :
High-quality education, integrating teaching with research, and
enhancing industry connectivity are three key areas to address. This
requires active encouragement and support for the faculties to think,
study, update their knowledge and research, and come out with
publications that are useful for all the stakeholders. In American
academia, research and teaching are considered to be the two sides of
the same coin, both having equal importance. The same culture has to be
developed here as well. India already has many excellent institutions
known for teaching; we now need to encourage research and more robust
connections with industries.
Team MBA Rendezvous -In today's business world, a strong research mindset is crucial for solving complex problems and developing innovative solutions. What is your take on this?
Dr. Justin Paul : As the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Consumer Studies (published by Wiley in the UK and the US) consumer research journal with the highest impact factor, I have witnessed the effectiveness of the blended research approach. My calendar is filled with international speaking engagements and workshops. The demand for a robust research approach is global. This foundation is important. Good research is essential for updating knowledge. This helps develop globally applicable theoretical models or practitioner-oriented approaches.
Simply put, this process begins with reading and writing extensively, leading to intellectual output that can even result in Nobel Prizes. Yet, in our country, there seems to be a gap. We need more successful researchers with a global impact. Currently, we have the best teachers, but we do not have the best researchers coming out of our institutions.
Team MBA Rendezvous -
Many business schools are experimenting with project- based learning and
entrepreneurship programs. Are there any such plans at NMIMS?
Dr. Justin Paul : At NMIMS, we will strengthen our on-campus incubator center by motivating and fostering the entrepreneurial spirit among students. While secure campus placements are valuable, the importance of nurturing startup ecosystems cannot be undermined. We are mooting on the idea of a triple collaboration network with the startup cells of IIT Bombay and IIM Mumbai. Although there is a family business school here, background or family history is not a barrier to entrepreneurship. We are committed to creating a truly inclusive environment.
Team MBA Rendezvous -
How do you plan to integrate innovative teaching methodologies and
frameworks into the curriculum at NMIMS?
Dr. Justin Paul :
We plan to strengthen two-way teaching in every classroom with more
exercises and case studies. This includes experimental learning,
accompanied by visits to companies or events. For instance, students can
observe real-world practices like how pricing is done in supermarkets
apart from internships. After these visits, students can participate in
role-playing exercises, solidifying their understanding. Reading and
analyzing real case studies will help them become better decision-makers
and problem-solvers. A comprehensive approach based on experimental
learning will help to cater to global standards.
Team MBA Rendezvous -
What strategies do you believe are crucial for preparing students to
thrive in a globalized business environment?
Dr. Justin Paul : We have floated the "Incredible India Immersion Program” to attract foreign students. The idea is to sign many MoUs with foreign universities and foreign business schools, in particular with European, and North American countries. We plan to develop a tri-component model incorporating academic, industry, and cultural components.
Team MBA Rendezvous -
What do you see as the biggest challenge faced by business schools? And
how do you plan to address them at NMIMS?
Dr. Justin Paul : Business education has undergone a significant transformation. Students are confused because of the overwhelming options of online programs, hybrid formats, and their advertisements. This information overload makes it difficult for aspiring MBAs to identify the program that best aligns with their career goals. In this environment, only the best will survive in the long run. Schools offering excellent quality education and excellent global exposure will survive for the next 25 or 30 years. While average institutions may survive for a few years, the future belongs to those who will prioritize excellence. NMIMS offers high quality education of international standard. We have the best professors and will continue to recruit professors with international experience and foreign qualifications.
Team MBA Rendezvous -
Do you plan to have some online collaborations with foreign
universities?
Dr. Justin Paul : Yes, we encourage industry practitioners and professors from foreign universities to teach modules in different courses in which they can appear online.
Team MBA Rendezvous -
What qualities and skills are essential for graduates to succeed in the
business world?
Dr. Justin Paul : Students need to develop a global mindset. They must think big and act globally. They need to work hard and refine themselves as globally competent citizens with knowledge, soft skills, and emotional intelligence. NMIMS provides soft-skill training for students
The new credit-based system introduced in India with NEP provides students with the option to select the course, complete the credits, and then graduate, which is good. This system has existed in America for many years. Steps are being taken to introduce a credit-based system at NMIMS. It's a way for universities to become more competitive with foreign institutions. This flexibility will attract students. Indian institutions must prioritize global recognition and student exposure and provide opportunities in multiple ways.
Stay informed, Stay ahead and stay inspired with
MBA Rendezvous
