Page 70 - EW June 2023

Pictorial Essay

Extraordinary Achievement in Education Leadership Award 2023-24

Dr. Naresh Chandra

Dr. Chandra receives award from EducationWorld Publisher/Editor Dilip Thakore

r. Naresh Chandra is Director (Education) of the system, campus development and student welfare.
B.K. Birla College of Arts, Science & Commerce Simultaneously, Dr. Chandra has worked on major re-
D(Autonomous), Kalyan, Mumbai (BKBCK, estb. in search projects; served as research guide for doctoral schol-
1972 under the patronage of Shri B.K. Birla and Smt. Sarala ars of the University of Mumbai; serves as a member of the
Birla). An alumnus of Meerut University, Dr. Chandra is National Academy of Sciences India (NASI), a Fellow and
a veteran educationist with over four decades of teach- Life Member of the Indian Botanical Society and as Asso-
ing, admin and leadership experience. Dr. Chandra began ciate Editor of the Journal of Cell and Tissue Research. A
his career at the B.K. Birla College in 1980 as a lecturer in well-respected higher education leader, Dr. Chandra has
botany. Subsequently in 1988, he was appointed Principal, been nominated by the Maharashtra state government to
serving with distinction until May 2018 (except the period several committees on higher education, to contribute his
when he was on lien). expertise to policy formulation and implementation of the
His leadership and commitment to quality improvement National Education Policy 2020.
and pedagogy innovation has been instrumental in trans- “The progressive growth of B.K. Birla College into a na-
forming BKBCK — which has an enrolment of over 13,000 tionally Top 10 ranked institution has been a very satisfying
students — into one of the country’s top-ranked colleges experience. Our prime objective is to ensure that students
dispensing high-quality, contemporary undergrad and receive well-rounded best quality education to prepare
postgraduate education. In 2015, BKBCK was conferred them for life and fulfilling careers. However, quality im-
‘College of Excellence’ status by the University Grants Com- provement is a continuous journey. We are committed to
mission (UGC), which also awarded it autonomous status serving this great temple of learning and continue to con-
in 2018-19. In the latest EW India Higher Education Rank- tribute to the process of transforming Indian higher educa-
ings 2023-24, BKBCK is ranked India #10 and Maharash- tion in line with NEP 2020,” says Dr. Chandra.
tra #6 among private autonomous colleges. For his dedicated service as teacher, researcher, fa-
Yet Dr. Chandra’s contribution to Indian higher educa- cilitator, and academic leader in India’s higher education
tion extends beyond BKBCK. He has served as Pro Vice system and in particular, for nurturing BKBCK for over
Chancellor of the University of Mumbai (UoM, estb.1857) four decades into a nationally respected higher education
for two terms — 1997-2000 and 2012-2015. During his ten- institution, the Editors and Board of Directors of Educa-
ure at UoM, he was instrumental in introducing innovative, tionWorld are pleased to present the EW Extraordinary
career-oriented, new-age study programmes and several Achievement in Education Leadership Award 2023-24 to
initiatives to upgrade university administration, evaluation Dr. Naresh Chandra.

70 EDUCATIONWORLD JUNE 2023