Prof. Dr. Sriram Bhagut Mathe, Founder Chairman of Xavier Academy, stands as one of Nepal’s respected educationists, guided by excellence, values, and holistic learning. In this rapid-fire conversation with College Readers, he reflects on his inspirations, institutional journey, leadership challenges, and proud contributions to Nepal’s education sector. He highlights Xavier Academy’s commitment to academic excellence, caring environment, 21st-century skills, project-based learning, character formation, and total personality development. Prof. Mathe also advises SEE graduates to evaluate their strengths, choose institutions wisely, and prepare for a future shaped by skills, values, and informed decisions in today’s rapidly changing academic world and opportunities.

What first inspired you to choose education as your lifelong profession?

The very dedicated Jesuit priests, who taught from Standard 1 to Standard 10 (we did not use the terms Class or Grade in St. Xavier’s School at that time) from 1955 to 1965, exceptional teachers like Narayan Hari Sir, Mohan Bir Sir, Moti Kazi Sir, Sudarshan Rijal Sir, Ram Man Sir in Amrit Science College and the very motivational teachers in M. S University, Vadodara, and my mentor and thesis guide in Strathclyde University, made me realize the importance of quality education and inspired me to follow in their footsteps. 

What is the one value that has guided your career from teacher to principal to Chairman?

I have been inspired and have followed the advice from the great Greek philosopher, Aristotle, to make excellence a habit and equally important advice from the very eminent and reputed scientist, Albert Einstein, to be a person of value rather than a person of success.

What was the most difficult challenge you faced in your professional journey?

The politicization of students and resulting political activities of the students when I was the Campus Chief of Pulchowk Campus and the Dean of Institute of Engineering proved extremely challenging in implementing the very much needed reforms to improve both quality of education and sustainability of Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University.

What single achievement in your career makes you most proud today?

The establishment of reputed education institutions, namely St. Xavier’s College (SXC) in 1988, Xavier Academy (XA) in 1997, as well as Asian Institute of Technology and Management (AITM) in 2010 are my biggest achievements

 In one sentence, how would you define the identity of your institution?

Xavier Academy has been totally committed to academic excellence and total personality development from its establishment in 1997, from 2007 (10th Anniversary) onwards, started to also focus on how best to provide a caring environment and, from 2017 (20th Anniversary) onwards also started focusing in providing 21st century skills, and from 2023 onwards, integrated project-based learning (PBL) on a pilot basis, and from this year, 2026, onwards, PBL will be fully implemented.What is the greatest strength of your school in today’s competitive +2 education sector?

Xavier Academy prides itself in providing quality and holistic education in a caring environment, and in imparting 21st century skills, through CCA activities, international XAMUNs, and on individual growth through ECA activities, social service and inter-college competitions.

What quality do you most want every student of your institution to carry into the future?

Besides knowledge, every student of Xavier Academy must have the 21st century skills of communication and collaboration to work with people and creativity and critical thinking to solve problems (4Cs to deal with 2 Ps).

What is the most common mistake students make after SEE while choosing their Plus Two path?

Many students do not properly self-evaluate their strengths and weaknesses to choose the stream of studies and do not conduct enough background check on the +2 institutions when choosing the institutions and very often are guided by the choices of their best friends. 

What is one change you strongly want to see in Nepal’s +2 education system?

The curriculum of +2 education system must keep pace with the frenetic technological changes taking place in the world so that our +2 graduates can make proper career choices after they complete their +2 education; furthermore, the teaching modality must be focused on concept and their proper understanding rather than rote learning.

How do you define an ideal teacher in the modern academic environment?

Teachers have to motivate and inspire students; ideal teachers are those who not only motivate and inspire their students but are also role models for them.

What is the biggest challenge facing students in the digital age?

Increasing social media usage, online gaming, chatGPT, and decreasing focus span in the classrooms are diverting the students from paying attention and learning in the classrooms, hence the need for the teachers to be more innovative in their teaching. 

In your view, what matters more: marks, skills, or character?

Without any hesitation, character is most important; when students have good character, they are eminently equipped to get valuable skills and better marks.

What one message would you like to give to SEE graduates preparing for their next academic step?

The students should honestly evaluate their strengths and weaknesses before deciding the stream and should shortlist best institutions, visit the institutions, find out who are behind the institutions, their history, academic performance, talk with the teachers, and assess whether the institutions provide the caring and supporting environment for their individual cared before they make an informed decision on which institution to join.