Shiv Nadar University Chennai Appoints Prof. Sriman Kumar Bhattacharyya as Vice Chancellor
Prof. Bhattacharyya joins the university after over three-decade long tenure at IIT Kharagpur
Chennai: Shiv Nadar University Chennai, the third initiative in higher education by the Shiv Nadar Foundation, today announced the appointment of Prof. Sriman Kumar Bhattacharyya as the University’s Founding Vice Chancellor. Prof. Bhattacharyya is a widely acclaimed academician and was previously the Director (officiating) at IIT Kharagpur. In a career spanning over three decades, Prof. Bhattacharyya has demonstrated outstanding scholarship in his field, rigor for academic excellence and support for the faculty’s role in achieving this, driving pedagogical redesign as well as commitment to teaching and research. He has also been the Director of Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) – Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) in Roorkee.
As the Vice Chancellor, Professor Bhattacharyya will provide academic and administrative leadership to the University’s vision of becoming a pioneering institution of higher education, setting new global academic benchmarks and revolutionizing the education landscape in the country.
Mr. R Srinivasan, Chancellor, Shiv Nadar University Chennai said, “We are delighted to welcome Prof. Bhattacharyya as the founding Vice Chancellor of Shiv Nadar University Chennai. We are confident that he will steer the University along with a team of acclaimed academicians and industry mentors to create an enabling environment that blends academic rigor, culture of research and sustained industry engagement. Under his leadership and vast experience, Shiv Nadar University Chennai will establish itself as an institution creating an enduring foundation for success of its students.”
Speaking on the appointment, Prof. Bhattacharyya said, “Excellence in education is the bedrock of a nation’s prosperity. It is an exciting time for university education in our country as the National Education Policy promises to usher in transformations enabling a more global approach for institutions of higher education. The Shiv Nadar Foundation has established itself as a pioneer of world class education and I am excited to lead its youngest initiative – the Shiv Nadar University Chennai – which has been modeled on global best standards with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary research.”
Shiv Nadar University, Chennai was launched in October 2020 as the first private University to be legislated in Tamil Nadu after 90 years. The University is housed in a sprawling, vibrant campus at Kalavakkam and is home to world-class facilities. In its first year, the University is inviting applications for four programs – these include a four-year undergraduate programmes in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science; and Computer Science & Engineering with specialization in Internet of Things offered by the School of Engineering and Bachelor of Commerce (Professional Accounting) and Bachelor of Commerce offered by the School of Commerce and Management. These programs have been designed in-line with the evolving educational and professional requirements in India and internationally.
Prof. Bhattacharyya is a distinguished academician and has been credited with leading major transformation and expansion of post-graduate and doctoral programs at IIT Kharagpur. His efforts included launching new postgraduate and executive development programs; driving significant growth in research activities and diversification initiatives with the introduction of medical sciences and research. He has also been associated with prestigious institutions such as IIEST (Shibpur), BITS (Pilani) and Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR). He has held visiting faculty positions with Technical University of Braunschweig in Germany and University of Durban-Westville, South Africa.
Prof. Bhattacharyya has published over 200 research papers in renowned journals and conferences and authored multiple books on structural engineering. He was awarded with ‘Lifetime achievement award’ for his contribution to structural engineering by the Indian Concrete Institute (ICI) in 2017.