Good day, Dr. Vipinkumar M.. I'm Arjun. I've had a look through your background and your professional record. I'm interested in hearing more about your work and how you see yourself fitting in here with our faculty. Ready to start?

Please start by introducing your professional journey in academia.

So my name is Doctor Vipin Kumar. Actually I'm belongs to Kerala and about my educational qualifications, I have completed PhD in Management in the year 2025 and I have completed MFIL in Mathematics as well as MFIL in Management.

And that is in the M Phil in mathematics in the in the year 2018 and and fill in the fill in management in the year 2000.

16.

Besides that I have two more qualifications that is of MBA Finance and Finance and income in Finance and MSC in Mathematics. So that is my qualification part and about my graduation that is BSE in mathematics. And about my educational experience, I have a total 17 years of total experience or other 14 years of teaching as well as three years of industry experience.

Besides this, I have uh, I have published many papers that is in the area of, uh, of uh, finance that is belongs to a PTC category and Scopus publications, etcetera are belongs to in my account and some more experience I, I have gained in the area of.

Research that is of.

The neck how the the coordinator of the uh NAC committee and the different clubs of uh.

In the area of.

In the especially in finance as well as the main, the coordinator of investment clubs and.

I have. I have attended different seminars, conferences also and published many.

Papers and actually my key area that is in the.

Statistics as well as in the area of finacity, major subjects that I have taught for the quantitative techniques, then the operational research, business analytics, then the security analysis and portfolio management as well as the investment management and and this are my brief.

And one more thing that's my publications are mainly belongs to the area of.

Especially Fintech and as well as the security and portfolio management. So this is about a brief.

About me.

Thank you, Professor, for sharing your background and qualifications. Your extensive teaching experience, industry exposure, and research in finance and quantitative areas are impressive. Let me begin with some questions relating to your academic experience and research contributions. How do you approach simplifying complex financial concepts, such as fintech applications, for students who may initially lack the required mathematical or technical foundation?

So the main thing is that the foundation or the basics of mathematics as well as statistics is a mandatory 1. Not only they can easily crack the in the area of VAS. In order to do that, the awareness of financial statistics, how to provide the in the students and only they will create a foundation. So in order to do that in building a foundation is the major part. Then the next step that we have to.

About the uh, to make them uh.

Focus on the different areas of finance. For example, if you're focusing on the.

Bananas sector that we, we can know that it is a secure chance and portfolio management is one of the important part that is in the area of share market. So, uh, that is one of the crucial part the the students have to know how to invest, when to invest, where to invest. Such type of details should be there. So simply it is, uh, based on data. So they have to, they have to be prepared with the data analysis. So in order to do that, they ought to know.

Thank you,

Types of data analysis tools also, so, uh, with the help of fintech, that means financial technology that we, we have to introduce them some technological tools or the software's into them for in order to do this step analysis, at least the best foundation of excel is mandatory. Then power BA, then, uh, such type of softwares, then SPSS. Many things are the in connection with the, the finance as well as research area.

Then only they can do such type of research and they can come across with a good conclusion. So in order to get the basics so they have to throw up with the finance as as well as mathematics, statistics. Then the combo of will give some exposure into this particular area that is so fintech.

Thank you.

OK, OK. So my uh publications are mainly belongs to Fintech as well as the data protection. And besides I have focused on the consumers also then the forecasting of stock return. And my topic is Fintech and the right to privacy is one of the major topic that they have done that is also published then one of the another. Thing is that forecasting of stock return with respect to the indices of National Stock Exchange and the bank and as well as the.

You're welcome, Professor. Let me ask about your research contributions. Could you share how your publications in fintech and portfolio management have addressed real-world financial problems or advanced academic understanding of these areas?

IT, uh, segment that means I have focused on the forecasting techniques that is based on the, uh, regression analysis and how it can be effectively used in order to, uh, measure the return of the shares that is listed in the national Stock Exchange as well as the banking Stock Exchange. And so that is one of the area that I have focused. Then another thing that I have done that is a a study on the.

Edtech startups, emerging markets and a promise that is their role of technology in transforming the education. So how much their impact on the transforming education is the another thing that I have done then another topics that have connected with the impact of financial crisis on investor behavior that is one of the crucial topic that I have felt because.

The reason is that.

We may we have already faced some financial crisis in the past especially 2008. And so during that period how the investors are behold that investors are behaving not to do the investment because sometimes they may panic based on the ups and downs or the huge crash in the market. So they may have the tendency of withdraw from the market. So they sometimes they may end with. A huge loss.

So if they're focusing on the long term point of view automatically, we know that.

Output will be in a positive way. There are so we can say that it is the return will be in a positive way. So that is that one of the topic that I have measured now to do that I have collected many samples for not to do the research analysis. Then another topic that I have focused on the financial literacy and the right to information in financial services that is also.

That is the paper that I done in the category of ABDC category C.

So that is, uh, in order to, uh, to, uh, because many filler services are available for the purpose of investment, so.

You need you need Lehman point of view, all the investors have to know how to invest, when to invest word in such a book, basic information that is in the form of financial literacy even.

A layman point of view if they are going to a bank they have to know what are the different steps. So that is should be a right to information. So they should know what to do when while going for doing the financial activities then the another thing that is financial.

Sustainable tourism very strategies for eco friendly growth and this is another topic that I have focused on so sustainable tourism interconnection with the SDGS sustainable development goes then the implication of that into how the finance can be, the financial strategies can be developed and the.

Another one that is I have focused on the study on effectiveness of hedging using the index futures the.

That means, uh, we know that different reasons are there and, uh, at the time of market crashdown as well as the boom that is on the bullish or bearish and, uh, with the help of edging, how the profit can be effectively managed or the consistency in the profit can be done. So then my PhD that is on the investor, uh, behavior, especially in the area of financial crisis. So that also I converted in into a paper, so.

In order to do that study, have a collected more than 250 samples from the National Stock Exchange area and the there are St. area and I got different types of samples from the Then I have analyzed the behavior of the investor. So please stay connected with the behavioral finance. So many of the investors are still in panic because. If any crisis type of situation have.

Happen so.

So it is better to given them a proper type of training in order to we know that Sebi is giving many type of training or a free demo classes or free classes or the some agencies also giving especially in the area of investment. So such type of practices is better.

Better, uh, for the, uh, for the investment in future. We know that less than 10 percentage of investors, 10 percentage of the population are investing in the stock market. So I'm focusing on the stock market in the recent reasons that is the, uh, we are getting more output means in the form of your return. So, uh, giving that type of knowledge to the students while they are at the uh.

And degree or the PG side, so better to give more training to the. I support my brief idea about my research as well As for the future for the students.

Thank you.

You're welcome, Professor. Let’s now shift to your teaching methodology. How do you ensure your instruction is both relevant to current industry practices and academically rigorous, especially when introducing students to areas such as behavioral finance or fintech?

So my teaching methodology is a mixed type of methodology. Uh, sometimes there will be theoretical side as well as there will be, uh, we know that, uh, some practical, uh, site. So in order to do the with, the reason is that currently I'm handling the subject security and portfolio management. So students have to get some practical exposure. So I have created some, uh, mock club.

Based on the investment club, so that I have asked them to open a demat account, then they will uh, they will get an experience how to do the, what to invest and how to do the procedures in investment. So they will get some practical knowledge. So that will help in order to focus on the subject like.

Focus on the areas like the technical analysis as well as the fundamental analysis.

The reason is that if they're focusing on the technical side, they have to know the statistical part in order to do that investment. So that is one of the, uh, very, very important part why we are considering about the technical analysis. On the other hand, if you're focusing on the fundamental analysis, the company background, uh, especially the industry analysis, uh, economic analysis, industry analysis, as well as the company analysis, these things, these three things.

How to be considered while at the time of investing so such type of data are necessary. So if it is a practical side, they will acquire some knowledge about a share, for example if I'm referring a share to them.

The share of Infosys. So automatically they may get the knowledge of Infosys. Who is the founder and what is the current status of Infosys and what what is the foundation part of the Infosys as well as the share value of Infosys. What is the last three-year profit of the Infosys. So such type of data can be gathered. So this campaigns the. Technological Sorry, the technical analysis as well as the.

I also is, I am using mixed methodology. So one of The thing is our practical side and the other is that of techno, uh, and the other is that of, uh, uh, theoretical side. On the theoretical side, uh, I'm, I'm usually, uh, giving them.

Fundamental analysis in that particular area, so.

Uh, based from this, uh, slide based classes as well as after that PR group discussions also will be increased. So ultimately what will happen this, uh, lecture type of methods also will be followed as well as peer group learning also will be, uh.

Oh, focused. So that will be the major impact of the session, both the balance of practical as well as the theoretical session. Sorry for my extension.

Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you for the appreciation.

You're welcome, Professor. Let’s now discuss how you guide student research projects. How do you ensure that your mentorship aligns with both academic standards and the evolving needs of the finance industry?

I hope you are asking about the projects of the student, right?

Yes, Professor, that’s correct. Could you elaborate on how you mentor students through their research projects while balancing academic rigor with industry relevance?

So currently I'm.

The one of Yeah, sorry.

OK, OK, OK. OK. OK. So currently I'm project keyed off from France students. So they have two months of purchase that is.

They have to focus on some topics they and they have it based on that they have to do the project that is a outline. So in order to do that, the initial step they have they have to submit a research proposal and.

Some, for example some 10 to 14 students are belongs to.

My gate by gate ship then I have I have to provide some guidelines to know what are the topics they.

Understood,

They, they can, or based on that, they have to focus on different types of topics and they have to come across the basics, uh, uh, proposals. And then after that they have to present and what to do and what are the different steps that have to be followed. Then they will be allocated into different companies and based on the company point of view, they will be allocated into different, if, if they're focusing on the finance, they will be allotted into. Finance area, then after that.

The regular, uh, weekly monitoring will be there from my end. So weekly updation they have to submit so, so that I can correct and within a span of eight or 7-8 or ten weeks, uh, thus.

Chapter wise allocation and chapter wise monitoring can be done as well as I can focus on their progress also. And they I have, I can give the feedback to such type of students and can give the proper guidelines in order to do the project. And after two months, if if they're satisfied, I can appreciate those also. And they sometimes they after that, sometimes they will get some practical.

Thank you. Thank you.

You're welcome, Professor. Now, moving forward, could you share how you incorporate current finance industry trends into classroom teaching, ensuring students remain informed about real-world developments?

OK, so the best way to do that financial news analysis, I have only so told while I'm focusing on the finance, I can make some clubs, so I can treat it as a club activity. That is a basic financial news analysis. That means the previous day news analysis can be can be analyzed with the help of these types of groups as well as the last week performance means.

If I'm focusing on Monday to, uh, Friday, so these five days, uh, news analysis can be done in that particular. So Monday's news will be analyzed in the, uh, Tuesday morning and, uh, it may be for a span of 10 to 15 minutes or maximum half an hour. It, it may elaborate up to maximum of 30 minutes. So, so, so OK, so they will get the financial, the current trend of the. Finance.

Well at the time of doing well, well at the time of budget also we can form a budget club and they can prepare the budget, analyse and discussions can be done. Then the based on the daily new daily financial news analysis. Then the for after five days, it will be a one week new semester will be there. Then next Monday they can contact queues based on the last financial.

Week means financial week in this is Monday to Friday.

That is so, uh, with last, uh, five days financial news analysis, then, uh, automatically, uh, some coordinators will conduct the queues, some participants will be the automatically, some preparations will be happen. So current trend and they may automatically search for the current trend as well as the inputs. Based on the inputs, the more output will be there from there and especially the current trend.

As well as budget analysis is one of the crucial part and to uh, this can be done in.

Every day as well as in a quarterly basis and, uh, monthly basis. So it can be done in a long term point of view. So they will be get into the, uh, uh, this particular industry as well as they have to focus on the, you know, what are the different values of the indices that is of NSE, BSE, NASDAQ, et cetera, and different uses in the worldwide. So this is one of the.

Uh, I hope this this will work out and I have past experience for doing this type of activities with the stress, especially with the investor club.

So that is a brief idea about the current news and how they can use the current finance terms.

Thank you. Thank.

You're welcome, Professor. Based on your answers, you exhibit a strong commitment to integrating practical industry trends into teaching and fostering active student engagement. Let’s now evaluate another key area. Could you elaborate on how you manage student evaluations and ensure fairness and transparency in the process?

OK, so in order to do the transparency I have already told some students coordinators will be the as well as I can evaluate them and based on the performance I can assign them points. So after getting some benchmarks, for example 10 or 20 points, they will that can be converted into marks so. I can share some Google sheet with them and they can.

Check by themselves it's a life in the form of a live Google Sheet. So they for example, if I'm using the Google Sheet or if if any type of software that that is demanded by the institution that I can use that that that also so better for AC communication is a goal sheet is also one of the important tool. Then I can assign the different types of points based on their performance. So they can evaluate by themselves in a daily or hourly point of.

So they will get a detailed information regarding this, whether they are performing well or they're performing downward and as well as the help of this coordinators, I can implement is this very successfully. So that is one of the.

In that I am focusing on. I hope it is I have answered for the question. I hope it is clear.

Thank. Thank you.

OK. My three-year industry experience and that is also in the area of share broking. So I have gained some practical exposure in the area of shared working, so.

You're welcome, Professor. Let's move forward. Could you briefly describe how your industry experience enhances your teaching and contributes to preparing students for real-world finance challenges?

With the industry while the time of teaching that helped me a lot in order to communicate my idea into them. So that is one of the important because I have get some practical experience though. So that is the reason why I'm saying that for either time of intensive as well as the project they have to get some practical experience. So that is the reason why I formed a investor club also. The students can contribute their part and they can invest. They can feel the practical life especially.

Umm in the area of investing we are focusing on subject like security and portfolio management. So that will give some exposure and the practical experience of mindset also. I have a I have implemented in the classrooms also.

Thank you, Professor. Your industry experience clearly adds significant value to your teaching, particularly in connecting theoretical knowledge with practical applications. Let’s now address your contributions to research journals. How do you ensure your research meets the standards of reputed journals like Scopus or ABDC?

Our scheduled time for the interview is now up. Before we conclude, do you have any questions related to the role or the company?

I hope it is uh, the fini, the uh, teaching in the area of finance. I'm I'm so interested in the area of quantitative techniques as well as finance.

Thank you, Professor, for sharing your interest in teaching finance and quantitative techniques. Would you like to discuss anything else about the role or responsibilities, or should we close the interview?

Uh, I I would like to get a brief idea about the roles and responsibilities if it is possible.

Professor, the role you're considering primarily involves teaching, mentoring, and guiding students in finance and related areas. You would deliver classroom instruction and laboratory sessions, evaluate students' performance, and actively contribute to curriculum development. Additionally, guiding student projects, supporting research activities, publishing papers in international journals, and promoting industry-institution interaction are key aspects. Your expertise in financial analytics, core financial management, and structured teaching approaches would be essential. A PhD in a relevant specialization is preferred, and prior academic or industry experience is advantageous. Does this align with your expectations for this position?

OK. Thank you.

Understood.

You're welcome, Professor. Would you like to ask anything else or shall we conclude the interview?

OK. And more questions. Thank you. Thank you for the valuable time.

And I and and I, I would like to appreciate the technology because of the a interview, the impli in the implication of latest technology and why at the time of doing the interacting very less number of universities and doing this type of technology are current updates.

Thank you, Professor, for your time and insightful responses. To confirm, are you ready to

Into the interview also.

Thank.

Yes, Sir. But I would like to conclude or what, what should I do?

You're welcome, Professor. To confirm, would you like to officially conclude the interview now?

OK. OK. Thank you.