'Academic leadership most beautiful form of leadership'

Dr Gururaj Karajagi, Chairman, Academy for Creative Teaching, addresses school principals at a seminar organised by DHiE in association with the Karnataka Milk Federation and Mysore Sales International Limited on Wednesday. DH PHOTO/S K DINESH

DHiE

Academic leadership is the most beautiful form of leadership said Dr Gururaj Karajagi, Founder and Chairman, Academy for Creative Teaching (ACT).

He was addressing a gathering of principals at an event by DHiE in association with the Karnataka Milk Federation and Mysore Sales International Limited.

Highlighting the challenge of being an academic leader, Karajagi said: "While a general leader like an army chief makes the plan, it is the soldiers who are on the battlefront. However, in the case of an academic leader, the principal does not have any support system, and has to take the sole responsibility for everything."

"Information is not Knowledge. Knowledge has to be experiential. Information coupled with experience becomes knowledge," he said.

Karajagi said: "A principal should communicate effectively, possess creative abilities, instil trust in the team and be a role model."

He recalled various insights from the speeches of great leaders like former president and aerospace scientist Dr A P J Abdul Kalam. Kalam believed that a true leader shields his team from blame and puts them in limelight at the time of success, he said.

The principals listened in rapt attention as the educationist shared valuable guidance on leadership. While the principals asked the educationist solutions to everyday challenges, the educationist shared valuable practical solutions.

Ravindra Bhat, Prajavani Executive Editor and M Nagaraj, Prajavani Associate Editor were also present.