Prof. (Dr.) Rajesh Madhukar Jalnekar is a distinguished academic leader and Director of Vishwakarma Institute of Technology, Pune. Established in 1983, VIT has grown into an autonomous institution offering undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes across diverse engineering disciplines. Under his leadership, the institute focuses on academic excellence, entrepreneurship, innovation and holistic student development. VIT’s curriculum integrates honours and minor streams, professional and skill development courses, internships, projects, open electives and soft skills to prepare students for evolving industry needs. Dr. Jalnekar has also strengthened international academic collaborations, research partnerships, student exchanges and global internship opportunities with leading universities across the USA, Singapore, Germany, Canada, France and Thailand. His vision emphasises student-centric education, digital technology integration, global exposure and industry engagement, empowering students to contribute meaningfully to technological and socio-economic development.