PROFILE AT A GLANCE
Date of Birth: February 15th, 1953
Native place: Warangal
Educational Qualifications: M.A., M. Phil., Ph.D. (Political Science), Osmania University
Teaching and Research Experience: 36 years
Positions held: Vice-Chancellor, Osmania University (2008-11), Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, OU, (2011-13)
Date of Superannuation: February, 2013.
Achievements as Vice-Chancellor, Osmania University
Reformative and Responsive Leadership:
Being at the helm of affairs of institution of higher learning and believing in intellectual adventurism, integrated ways of human life and the need for perennial pursuance of Wisdom and Knowledge, I took initiative to develop the university according to the national mandate as unfolded in the reports of various committees and commissions on Higher Education since independence and the set out direction given by the University Grants Commission from time to time. This meant that the best academic and administrative practices were put in place thereby enabling first generation unrepresented and underrepresented students from the backward region of erstwhile, Andhra Pradesh and present Telangana state to get the best education that would enable them to compete on equal footing with the students from other reputed universities.
Academic Reforms and other initiatives:
Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) was introduced in all the Post-Graduate courses offered by the University in campus and constituent colleges from the academic year 2009-10 onwards. CBCS paves the way for the University to compete with the best of the institutions in the country and abroad. Further, the introduction of credit system facilitates mobility of students from one university to the other, anywhere in the world. The University also introduced two compulsory choice based extra-disciplinary papers at PG level to provide academic flexibility. This also includes project work as one of the components of curriculum so as to enable the students to come in contact with the realities of the world outside the university. Additionally, innovative and students empowering programmes were introduced by enabling students to take up add-on courses in communicative English, soft skills, ethics, human rights, environment, wellness and community work, so as to aid the overall personality development and inculcate basic values in the students.
Research and Infrastructure Development:
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Enabled university to secure the most prestigious recognition, the University with Potential for Excellence (UPE), with a grant of Rs. 50 crores by UGC, New Delhi.
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Instrumental in bringing a grant of Rs. 16 crores , under ISLARE programme, sponsored by Dept. of Biotechnology, Govt. of India, competing at national level.
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University receive a grant of Rs. 9 crores under DST sponsored, PURSE programme, based on the H-index (R&D performance), during my tenure as VC.
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In addition to the above funds, around Rs. 75 crores were received by the university, from UGC and other Central Government agencies under various schemes, such as CAS, SAP, DRS, departmental projects for research and infrastructure developmental activities.
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Involved in creation of a State-of -Art R & D facility for promotion of research in science and technology (Central Facility for Research and Development). Additionally, a digital library containing several thousand books and journals and with online facility was also established, for present and future needs.
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To improve the quality of governance, ICT facility was extensively up-graded and introduced automation in many areas.
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Initiated a process to institutionalize strong Alumni connectivity to raise funds and share their expertise.
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Construction activity was taken-up in a big way to provide new hostels, academic and administrative blocks. For the first time University engaged the services of National Academy of Constructions, a reputed organization for third party quality assurance.
Academic Programmes:
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New laboratories facilitated better research and teaching, a fact reflected in various schemes of research being granted to different faculties and jobs being given to students by prestigious companies such as Wipro, Tata Consultancy Services, Google, Patni Computers, Apollo Hospitals, Global Hospitals, etc.
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Created conducive academic atmosphere and other facilities for attracting large number of foreign students. As a result, around 4000 foreign students from little over 60 countries were enrolled. University took personal care of the students for their stay and other facilities. For understanding and appreciation of global and Indian ways of life, joint cultural programmes were organized, by foreign and Indian students.
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Visited several international Universities to study and interact with faculty to initiate collaborative academic programmes.
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Took initiative to identify prestigious institutions and institutions of excellence with reputation of serious research, and signed Memoranda of Understanding with them. The list of such institutions includes the University of Western Australia, University of Wales, UK, University of Kansas, USA, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, ICRISAT, College of Defence Management, Secunderabad, etc. The MOU’s were specifically created with the intent to collaborate in newer and emerging areas of research and for better knowledge management in various areas of science, social science, humanities, commerce and management. The collaborations with foreign universities involve exchange programmes for both students and faculty.
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Many student supportive programmes were strengthened to promote academic excellence, to secure national research fellowships and coaching for various competitive examinations. I was instrumental in reviving of training in the Centre for Competitive Examinations for students to enable them to appear in various competitive examinations for jobs through UPSC, APPSC and BSRB. Coaching for the UGC –JRF and NET were also provided. This center has shown encouraging results with an increase in the numbers of those who qualified for JRF and NET and with many students qualifying and getting selected for State and Central services.
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One of the major initiatives taken during my tenure was to vacate the non-boarders in the university hostels, so as to provide better facilities and conducive atmosphere for the regular boarders.
Crisis Management :
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As the Vice-Chancellor of the Osmania University, the biggest challenge faced came in the form of the Separate Telangana movementas the University became the epicenter of student agitations. Successfully steered the university during the turbulent period of long agitation for separate Telangana state, by maintaining peace in the campus and saving the academic year.
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A student counseling center namely SAHAYAM was established during my tenure, which was involved in psychological counseling of students undergoing spell of depression having suicidal tendencies. This had a remarkable impact on the students in reducing stress related problems. This student centric center is being sought by the students, even today, indicating its popularity.
Personal Achievements:
Academic Excellence:
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Specialized in the subject area of Public Policy with reference to Governance, Higher Education and Rural Development. Guided more than 30 candidates, for M. Phil. and Ph.D. degrees’. Published several research papers, books/book chapters.
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Attended/Chaired seminars and conferences, both at National and International.
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Coordinated and headed research driven special assistance programmes such as the UGC sponsored CAS- Programme, Phase-I, which was one of the first programme in the country in the discipline of political science.
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Technical resource person for IGNOU, BRAOU, ICSSR, SCERT-AP, Dr.MCR HRD, many NGO’s and various Academic Staff Colleges all over India.
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Participated in UK-India Higher education leadership programme, sponsored by UGC.As a member of the delegation, led by the then Honorable Governor of AP, visited several universities in Germany, France and UK.
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As, Dean of Social Sciences, Head of the Department and Chairman Board of Studies of Political Science, valuable contributions were made for the growth and quality enhancement of Research, Teaching and Learning.
Post Retirement Engagements:
My passion for academics especially in the realm of higher education keeps me participating in the related events in different capacities, which include,
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As chairperson of NAAC peer committee, visiting several colleges and universities all over India for quality education assessment.
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Appointed as a member of the review committee constituted by Visitor(Ministry of HRD),Govt. of India to review the functioning of National Council of Rural Institutions.
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Member, high level UGC committees, contributing to reforms.
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Solicited as member of search committees for the appointment of Vice-Chancellor to different universities in the country.
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Member, Board of Management, ICFAI University, Hyderabad.
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Govt. of Telangana, appointed me as the Chairman of Fee Regulation Committee, for recommending necessary measures for regulating fee in private schools.
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Govt. of Telangana, appointed me as the Chairman of the Committee to look into issue relating to Assistant Professors on Contract and non-teaching/contact workers in state Universities.
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My academic and administrative expertise is solicited by various educational organizations to promote academic excellence.
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Member of a committee constituted by Govt. of Telangana to examine the applications for establishing private Universities in the state of Telangana.
Self-Appraisal:
My biggest asset is being a social science background has always been the ability to listen to what others have to say about a subject and respond to that in the best possible way; either by incorporating what they have to say in a process, if the suggestion is valid, or convince them of the fallacies of their argument logically, without hurting their feelings and address the issues with humane touch. I see myself as a team player and effective leader who can carry a large body of people having diverse opinions with me on issues of public interest bearing consequences for the State and the Nation. I believe that I am a sincere person driven by the urge to be diligent for the good of the society. As an educator and educationist, my priority has always been education and specifically, higher education with human face.
