Growing and Nurturing Future Leaders for Tourism and Hospitality Industry

Education plays a vital role in building the future of our nation by transforming lives and communities. We have several educator heroes who help students aim high and achieve their potential, often meeting and overcoming considerable challenges along the way. Recently Delhi based MT Research & Educational Services (MTRES) came up with Teaching Excellence Awards (TEA) 2018, to recognize the monumental role teachers play in our society as they instil a desire to learn and achieve and create tomorrow’s leaders. Meet one of the awardees, Dr. P. Purnachandra Rao, Assistant Professor and HoD, Department of Tourism & Hospitality Management, Acharya Nagarjuna University (ANU), Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, who has been honoured with Excellent Teacher Award in MTRES TEA 2018.

MTRES has been rendering excellent services for the promotion of education and research in India certainly. I believe that it will extend such services more and more across India particularly in backward regions and areas in future.
Dr. P. Purnachandra Rao

Dr Rao hails from a middle class Agricultural Family from Malkapuram village which is located in Thullur Mandalam, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh. He completed his higher education and research at Acharya Nagarjuna University, Nagarjuna Nagar. He started his professional career in 1997 by joining as Teaching Assistant in the Department of Commerce and Business Administration at extension center of ANU i.e P.G Center, at Ongole, Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh. Later, he joined Department of Tourism & Hospitality Management, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Nagarjuna Nagar, as an Assistant Professor in 2009. He is also currently the Head and Coordinator of this department which functions under the Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration of ANU.

The primary area of research during his PhD journey was on Social Protective Measurers of workers in Dairy Industry of Andhra Pradesh. His current research focuses in the domains of Commerce, Management, Tourism and Hospitality. He has been instrumental in starting the research programme in his department since 2013. He has been a Project guide to many of his students of MBA, MTTM and MBA (TTM) and also students who are admitted in the Distance Mode of Education for their MBA Degrees. He has guided completion of research of two Ph.D. and two M. Phil. scholars and the research of five more Ph.D. scholars is on-going. Also, three fellowship scholars and six other research scholars are working for their Ph.D. degrees under his supervision.

Professor Dakshina Murty, an eminent and exemplary Professor in Commerce & Business Administration, and my teacher in my P.G studies at ANU, has been my inspiration behind my entire professional career planning.
Dr. P. Purnachandra Rao

Apart from his research focus, Dr. Rao has been involved in several administrative assignments. He is an external examiner and resource person, question paper setter, Board of Studies member to some of the universities and institutions in A.P and other states like Telangana, Pondicherry and Karnataka. As the head of the department, he has conducted several UGC national seminars, workshops and skill development training programmes sponsored by Andhra Pradesh Tourism Authority. He has also been a member in the panel of judges in the Tourism Event Competitions and similar other events.

Dr Rao has also authored multiple books on travel and tourism. Some of them are Tourism & Travel Techniques (2018, Intermediate Vocational Course, 1st year Text Book, Board of Intermediate, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh), Glimpses of South India Tourism 2017, Chronicle of Krisha District Tourism 2013, Chronicle of Prakasam District Tourism 2013 and Chronicle of Guntur District Tourism 2013. He has been awarded by several organizations for his excellent contribution in travel and tourism sector. He received an award in the category of Excellence in Writing & Publication in 2017 from APTA, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh; Adarsh Vidya Saraswati Rashtriya Puraskar, By Global Management Council, Ahmedabad, 2016; and Shiksha Rattan Puraskar Award by the India International Friendship Society, New Delhi, in the year 2010.

I get immense satisfaction in the fact that I am contributing in growing our nation in travel and tourism sector. I will do my best to grow my department as much as possible.
Dr. P. Purnachandra Rao

Dr. Rao envisions robust growth for his department in the coming years as it plans to introduce industry specific diploma and certificate courses to help build skilled man power. In this regard, he is also planning to start some skill development focused training programmes for the benefit of students and youngsters. He will continue to focus on his research activities and would like to guide one or two scholars each year towards completion of their Ph.D. on contemporary issues in General Management, Tourism management, etc. He also aspires to undertake projects of A.P. Tourism, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh, UGC and others in the near future.

About MTRES
MT Research & Educational Services is an initiative to bridge the gap between academics and industry. It was founded in 2013 with the combination of industry, academic and research personnel. They execute various educational events (Conferences, Seminars, Workshops, Short Term Courses, Trainings and Competitions) throughout India. They provide various educational platforms for direct engagement of students, academicians and corporates. They execute internships and placement drives also in colleges. Website.