FACULTY OF Media and Communication
Symbiosis Faculty of Media and Communication fosters the highest standard of training and inquiry into the multi-faceted needs of the media and communications industry. Our strong academic programmes are driven by rigour, scholarship and a healthy integration of theory and practice that translate abstract ideas into tangible forms.
Dean's Message
Ruchi Kher Jaggi, Phd, is Professor and Director of Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, and Dean of the Faculty of Media and Communication, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune, India. She has been working in higher education for two decades now.
Prof. Ruchi JaggiDean - Faculty of Media & Communication
Symbiosis International University (SIU), Dubai
Director's Message
Dr. Anita Patankar is a distinguished academic and administrator with a proven track record of leadership in higher education. She currently serves as the Executive Director of Symbiosis International University, Dubai and also holds the positions of the Director of the Symbiosis Centre for International Education.
A pioneer in the field of liberal arts education in India, Prof. Patankar is Founding Director of the Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts, India's first 4-year liberal arts college. She continues to serve as an Advisor to the school, guiding its growth and development. With over 39 years of experience in Indian higher education, Prof. Patankar has been instrumental in shaping the landscape of liberal arts education in the country.
Dr. Anita Patankar is passionate about internationalisation of higher education. She has been actively involved in developing innovative learning processes, fostering a culture of inclusivity, and promoting internationalization@home. Prof. Patankar is committed to creating 'fair, just and inclusive' learning ecosystems that empower students to become engaged citizens and global leaders.
Beyond her academic and administrative roles, Prof. Patankar is actively involved in various initiatives. She serves on the board of trustees of ECONET, an NGO dedicated to the welfare of tribal and disadvantaged populations. She is also a member of the Indian Members Council of the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, the CII Africa Committee, and the Alliance of Asian Liberal Arts Universities. Additionally, she is a founding member of Samvedana, Symbiosis International University's gender advisory committee.
Dr. Anita Patankar Executive Director, SIU Dubai
Symbiosis Institute of Media & Communication (SIMC), Pune
Director's Message
Welcome to Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication (SIMC), Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune.
To say that media is everywhere is cliché. However, this cliché poses both umpteen challenges as well as opportunities. While the digitally-enabled world offers unprecedented opportunities on one hand, the ability to leverage the advantages of this communications revolution requires a sharp understanding of the domain. What cannot be forgotten in this euphoria is that a responsible and socially-oriented media is critical to the functioning of a plural society. Only well-grounded professionals can bring this nuanced understanding to the working of the media industry. The essence of SIMC lies in creating practitioners who can assimilate intellect, creativity, skill and integrity and achieve highest standards of professional expertise and conduct.
Today, SIMC is the largest institute of its kind in India in terms of PG student intake, across two full-time (2 year), residential programs with distinctly different specializations and yet, delivering a unique and complementary blend of Media, Communications and Management theories coupled with practice. SIMC is also the oldest post-graduate institute offering integrated Media and Communications based programs.
Our vision for the future spans greater recognition as an institute with proven academic standards, higher industry interactions and collaborations with other academic institutions also focusing on the Media and Communications fields, and developing ourselves as the Centre of Excellence in Communications Research in the country.
Dr. Ruchi Kher JaggiDirector - SIMC, Pune
Symbiosis Centre for Media & Communication (SCMC), Pune
Director's Message
Dr. Sreeram Gopalkrishnan has over 33 years of experience in the Corporate and Education sectors. He is a PhD in Mass Communications, MS in Communications, MBA from NMIMS and has attended Executive Programmes at the IIM Ahmedabad and Indian Oil Institute of Petroleum as well as Mudra Institute of Communications & Advertising (MICA).
He has a UGC NET Lectureship qualification and published research papers in leading peer-reviewed and Scopus Indexed Management and Communications Research Journals. Dr Sreeram started his career in the IT Industry before getting into the media industry as a Scriptwriter and Copywriter in companies like OS Studios & RK Swamy BBDO.
He joined Fortune 500 company Indian Oil as a Probationary Officer and worked in senior leadership positions pan India before shifting to the Atharva Group. In 2016, he received the prestigious Best MBA Faculty award from the premier Bombay Management Association.
In 2017, he joined Symbiosis International University and is presently the Director at Symbiosis Centre for Media and Communication and visiting faculty at the Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune for Film Marketing. Dr. Sreeram’s research interests are in Computational Propaganda, South Indian Cinema Studies, Film Marketing, Scientific Temper and Religion and Media
Dr. Sreeram Gopalkrishnan Director - SCMC, Pune
Symbiosis School of Visual Arts and Photography (SSVAP), Pune
Director's Message
Puneet Gupta is a seasoned academic, researcher, and visual storyteller with over 19 years of diverse experience spanning photography, journalism, and teaching. She is known for her contributions to photojournalism, ethnographic research, and visual storytelling.
Her research work, including a notable article on manual sand miners in Bihar, has been published in prestigious Q1 Scopus-indexed journals. An adept educator, she teaches various photography specializations, including Photojournalism, Street, Documentary, Sports and Architectural Photography, while mentoring students on impactful projects with organizations like Incredible India. She has also curated significant exhibitions such as Nature in Focus.
Her photojournalistic journey includes contributions to reputed publications like DNA, Hindustan Times, and The Indian Express, with exclusive coverage of major events like Bharat Bandh and Mumbai’s metro development. Puneet has documented diverse subjects, from architectural marvels to socio-political narratives, earning recognition such as the National Photo Award and an international scholarship to the Angkor Photography Workshop.
A PhD scholar researching COVID-19's visual narratives in India, Puneet is a passionate advocate for visual communication, blending her skills in photography, writing, and mentoring to inspire future creatives. Her work reflects a deep commitment to storytelling with purpose and precision.
Ms. Puneet GuptaHead
