The spotlight is on Anil Kumar, Oracle Academy coordinator at Manipal University Jaipur, India.

Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ), located in the capital city of Rajasthan, India’s largest state, is a self-financed state private university and a proud member of the Manipal Education and Medical Group (MEMG), a globally recognized leader in education, research, and healthcare. Established in 2011, MUJ quickly emerged as one of the leading institutions in the region, redefining academic excellence through its commitment to quality education, innovation, and holistic student development. The university offers a diverse portfolio of career-oriented undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs across five faculties, covering disciplines in science technology, management, humanities, design, and law.

With a sprawling 122-acre modern campus in Dehmi Kalan, Jaipur, MUJ provides students with world-class infrastructure, state-of-the-art laboratories, advanced research centers, and a fully digital library. The university fosters a vibrant learning environment that blends classroom teaching with experiential, hands-on exposure, preparing students to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global workforce. Beyond academics, MUJ actively promotes entrepreneurship, leadership, and innovation through incubation centers, industry partnerships, and collaborations with global institutions.

The School of Computer Science and Engineering, part of the Faculty of Science, Technology, and Architecture, is comprised of six departments specializing in different fields of computing technology. The Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) has been at the forefront of delivering high-quality education in computer science since the launch of its flagship B.Tech. CSE program in 2011. Over the years, the department has evolved into a hub of innovation, creativity, and technological excellence, offering students not just a strong academic foundation but also opportunities to apply their knowledge in real-world contexts. The program is designed to prepare students for a wide spectrum of career paths including software development, data science, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and emerging fields, while also nurturing an entrepreneurial mindset. This dual focus ensures that graduates are capable of excelling in employment, creating startups, or contributing to research and societal development.

The department is deeply proud of its alumni network, which includes professionals and innovators making significant contributions across industries such as information technology, fintech, consulting, research, and higher education. Many alumni have secured prestigious positions in multinational corporations, government organizations, and leading startups, while others have pursued advanced studies at globally renowned institutions. Their success stories stand as a testament to the department’s commitment to producing competent and responsible professionals.

Under the visionary leadership of Prof. (Dr.) C. S. Lamba, Associate Dean, and Prof. (Dr.) Neha Chaudhary, Head of Department, the School of Computer Science is growing rapidly, further strengthening its position as a center of academic and technological excellence.

Anil Kumar is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at MUJ. He is a coordinator of Oracle Academy from the university side for utilizing the teaching resources of Oracle Academy in the university curriculum. He is an active member of the All-India Oracle Users Group (AIOUG) and a guest speaker at events co-hosted by Oracle Academy.

Oracle Academy courses are integrated with the CSE curriculum.

Oracle Academy: Can you tell us how you are using Oracle Academy resources in teaching computer science?

Anil Kumar: Since becoming a member in 2021, the department has been integrating Oracle Academy curriculum into its four-year B.Tech Computer Science and Engineering program. In addition to classroom delivery, we also follow a concept of outside-class engagement, where industry-led courses are incorporated into the curriculum. The primary goal is to ensure that students are job ready from the very first day of their graduation.

Our Database Management Systems class integrates Oracle Academy’s Database Design, Database Programming with SQL, Database Programming with PL/SQL and Database Foundations. The Object-Oriented Programming class makes full use of Java Fundamentals and Java Programming.

We also have rolled out Artificial Intelligence with Machine Learning in Java as a transversal elective. One hundred students are following that course in various departments. And as coordinator for Oracle Academy, I have also recently introduced our civil engineering department to non-database specific offerings such as Oracle Primavera for project management.

In addition, we leverage the Oracle Academy Cloud Program to provide access to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) and use Oracle APEX as a low-code development platform for student mini-projects and final-year projects.

Oracle Academy: How many faculty are using those resources in their teaching?

Anil Kumar: Out of the 150 faculty members across various departments of the School of Computer Science and Engineering (SCSE), nearly 80 faculty members are Oracle Academy instructors. These instructors not only deliver Oracle Academy resources in their teaching but are also evaluated based on their performance and effectiveness.

To deliver Oracle Academy courses, faculty members are required to be Oracle Academy instructors, maintain active membership in the Oracle Academy Member Hub, and manage Oracle Cloud accounts. This ensures alignment with the latest tools, technologies, and pedagogical practices offered by Oracle Academy.

Oracle Academy: And students?

Anil Kumar: In terms of enrollment, this semester approximately 1,400 students are benefiting from Oracle Academy resources. Since becoming a member institution in 2021, the School of Computer Science and Engineering (SCSE) has introduced approximately 5,000 students to Oracle Academy courses, significantly enhancing their exposure to industry-relevant tools, technologies, and learning experiences.

Oracle Academy: Maybe you could run us through a typical course?

Anil Kumar: In the Database Management Systems (DBMS) course, students learn the fundamental concepts of relational databases, including SQL queries, PL/SQL procedures, functions, and triggers. These concepts are implemented during lab sessions conducted on the Oracle APEX cloud platform, where students gain hands-on experience in writing and executing SQL and PL/SQL code within a real-world cloud environment. This practical exposure allows them to build and test applications on Oracle Cloud.

In the Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) course, Oracle Academy Java resources enable students to develop a strong understanding of programming logic, object-oriented principles, and application development.

Oracle Academy: What would you say are essential benefits?

Anil Kumar: Our students benefit immensely from Oracle Academy resources in several impactful ways. Each course is carefully mapped to our syllabus, which is aligned with industry expectations across India and globally, enhancing the quality of both teaching and learning. Students gain hands-on experience with widely used technologies, going beyond the foundations of database management and programming. Platforms like Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) and Oracle APEX allow students to work in real-time cloud environments, acquiring crucial skills that are highly valued in today’s job market.

For instructors, Oracle Academy’s training resources and structured course materials support faculty development and help us stay current with evolving technologies and teaching methodologies. Overall, our collaboration with Oracle Academy bridges the gap between academic learning and industry requirements, making our students more competent, confident, and career ready.

Oracle Academy: Are you making use of Oracle professional certification opportunities?

Anil Kumar: This initiative is set to roll out next semester, focusing on OCI certification for students. Before students appear to these exams, we aim to have the faculty themselves become OCI certified, so they are well-equipped to instruct the student cohorts effectively, ensuring a high-quality learning experience aligned with industry standards. Currently, students are receiving OCI certificates directly from Oracle Academy, providing them with formal recognition of their skills and hands-on experience.

Oracle Academy: Great. And we hear that you participate in Oracle events too.

Anil Kumar: Yes, I recently attended an industry-academia interaction event at the Oracle Noida office in northern India, where I was invited to give a talk on how MUJ integrates Oracle Academy courses into our curriculum. This took place during the Oracle Academy Adoption Best Practices session, where educators shared their experiences in effectively incorporating Oracle Academy resources into teaching.

In addition, I actively participate in conferences organized by the Oracle Community Yatra, part of AIOUG. In 2025, the Yatra is scheduled as a six-city tour, where Oracle professionals—including developers, engineers, and project managers—from diverse industries present real-world use cases, insights, and best practices across a wide spectrum of Oracle products.

Oracle Academy: Good to learn. And lastly, what are your interests outside of teaching?

Anil Kumar: One of my favorite pastimes, especially during the summer break, is cricket. I enjoy playing in my leisure time and actively participate in the annual university event, Xpression, which organizes inter-department tournaments as well as dance, music, and fun games. Bowling and fielding are my strong points, and I greatly enjoy playing on the beautiful cricket ground on our campus.

In addition to cricket, I enjoy playing chess and participating in other sports.

Beyond extracurricular activities, I remain deeply engaged in my core areas of interest—software engineering, cybersecurity, and machine learning—by continuously enhancing my knowledge and contributing to research publications in these domains.

Thank you, Anil Kumar, for your passion for Oracle Academy and for preparing your students to make a positive impact.