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NITI Aayog has appointed Dr Shashank Shah as the Director-Specialist-Higher Education. Dr. Shah announced his new role through a LinkedIn post, thanking the think tank. In his post, Dr Shah wrote, “I am delighted to share that I have been appointed as Director Senior Specialist – Higher Education at NITI Aayog, India’s apex public policy think tank, chaired by Honorable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi.” “The education system is a bank on which the nation draws a cheque for strong, reliable, and skilled citizens. In this new role, it will be my endeavour to give my very best to the world’s third-largest Higher Education System, such that it can enhance equity and access, foster excellence, create impact, and mould young Indians with the ability and nobility,” he added. Dr. Shah has done his bachelor’s from the University of Mumbai. He is a post graduate and doctorate in Business Management from Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. He is a stakeholder management strategist, researcher, and published business author. Dr. Shashank has developed strategic perspectives and operational frameworks on leading multinational and Indian public and private sector firms, including Fortune 500 companies. It is noteworthy that the NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog is a premier policy and think tank of India. They are responsible for a number of transformational initiatives. The three main functions of Niti Aayog include policy and knowledge, innovation or monitoring, and evaluation.

Prof M Jagadesh Kumar bid farewell to the students and faculty of Jawaharlal Nehru University, after accepting the responsibilities of the Chairman of the University Grants Commission for the tenure of five years. Prof Kumar, who has served as the Vice-Chancellor of JNU since 2016, was appointed as the Chairman of the UGC last week by the Ministry of Education. In his letter, he writes about the role of the faculty in implementing various changes within the university. “Opening of new Schools and Centres, starting of new academic programmes, and making the admission and administrative process efficient could be realised only because my colleagues had the commitment and conviction to remain focused on the priorities that would enable our University to turn into one of the finest,” he mentions. However, Prof Kumar made no regard to the varied controversies that plagued the varsity during his time in charge, like the disappearance of a student, Najeeb Ahmed in 2016 after the sedition row, the protests against fee hike in 2019 and the 2020 attacks on students at JNU. Prof Kumar also went on to add that students and faculty were open to the changes introduced and took part in feedback sessions. “I tried always to be available to all the stakeholders — students, staff and faculty members. We used to have weekly afternoons exclusively reserved for such interactions. During these regular dialogues, I received constructive feedback and suggestions that helped me resolve many issues,” he shared. Prof Kumar also issued another notice declaring the appointment of Prof Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit as his successor to the post of Vice-Chancellor of JNU. Prof Pandit, who is currently at the Department of Politics and Public Administration, Savitribai Phule Pune University, is the first-ever woman VC of the university. Read| Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit Appointed First Woman Vice Chancellor Of JNU

Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit will be the first woman vice chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University with the Ministry of Education (MoE) appointing her to the highest post on Monday. Ms. Pandit is presently a political science professor at Department of Politics and Public Administration, Savitribai Phule University in Maharashtra. She is additionally an alumna of JNU where she pursued her MPhil as well as PhD in international relations. “President Ram Nath Kovind, who’s Visitor to the University, has approved the appointment of Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit as JNU vice chancellor. Her appointment is for a period of 5 years,” a senior MoE official said. Ms. Pandit began her education career from Goa University in 1988 and moved to Pune University in 1993. She has held administrative position in various academic bodies. She has also been a member of the University Grants Commission (UGC), the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) and Visitor’s nominee to central universities. She has guided 29 PhDs in her career. M Jagadesh Kumar, who was holding the charge of acting VC at JNU after his five-year term ended last year, was last week appointed as the chairman of the UGC. “It gives me pleasure to inform you that Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit from Savitribai Phule Pune University has been appointed as the next Vice-Chancellor of JNU. She’s the first female Vice-Chancellor of JNU. My hearty congratulations to her. I’m handing over the charge to her today and wish her success in her new role,” Kumar said in a statement. Source: PTI