Lt. Gen. (Dr) M.D. Venkatesh VSM (Retd)
Vice Chancellor, MAHE

An alumnus of Mumbai University with distinguished 38 years of service in the medical corps of the Indian Army, Lt. Gen. (Dr) M.D. Venkatesh VSM (Retd) was appointed Vice Chancellor of the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (estb. 1953 and awarded private deemed university status in 1993) in 2020.

MAHE goals for 2047. Recognized as an Institution of Eminence (IoE) by the Union education ministry, MAHE has prepared a bold IoE Strategic Plan, to be ranked among the Top 100 universities worldwide. This goal rests on five pillars designed to propel MAHE towards global excellence:      

• Excellence in education through curricular design, expanded postgraduate and Ph D enrolment, strengthening faculty capacity, upgrading student support systems and infrastructure, and developing globally recognized academic programs in line with the National Education Policy 2020 and Viksit Bharat.
• Exemplary research & innovation by enhancing research capabilities through publishing high-impact papers, securing R&D funding, and establishing interdisciplinary and innovation centres.
• Expanding reach and internationalisation by engaging in global networking, increasing the number of international students, expanding campuses, enhancing global academic mobility, and promoting meaningful engagement with prestigious universities worldwide.
• Effective engagement with alumni by collaborating actively with businesses and organizations to facilitate internships, mentorships, and collaborative projects, especially of alumni.
• Enabling sustainability by improving the education experience for students and faculty through upgrading campus digital and physical facilities, conducting paperless examinations and using renewable energy.

MAHE’s progress. We are fairly satisfied with our progress. During the past five years, we have consistently achieved strategic targets, as documented in reports to the Union ministry of education. Moreover, our institutional progress is evident in our excellent performance across several notable rankings. MAHE is ranked #4 in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF). Internationally, MAHE holds a strong position in the Times Higher Education subject rankings, as well as in its Asia rankings and Impact Rankings. Additionally, the university is represented in the QS World University Rankings and the QS Sustainability Rankings.

Industry engagement. I am highly satisfied with MAHE’s engagement with industry and business. The university has a dedicated Corporate Relations office to effectively coordinate industry connections. We support industrial startups through initiatives such as the Manipal Universal Technology Business Incubator, the Manipal GoK Bio Incubator, and the Manipal Innovation Instrument, Devices and Allied Services (MIDAS). We also value our collaboration agreements with highly respected corporates including Philips India, Toyota, Dr. Reddy’s Labs and representative business organisations such as FICCI, CII, and the Indian Merchants’ Chamber.

R&D initiatives. MAHE’s innovation and research activities are supported by a big budget of Rs.300 crore and several specialised centers of excellence. Prominent among them is the Central Analytical Instrumentation Facility (CAIF) which provides a sophisticated research and development environment across disciplines, including materials science, biomedical sciences, and life sciences. The Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT) houses the MIT-KEF R&D Centre, a collaborative effort with KEF Infra Pvt. Ltd. Moreover, the MIDAS, DST-MAHE Hub functions as a regional center for healthcare technologies and medical devices. We are heading towards achieving an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ in medical devices.

Prescription for transforming India into $30 trillion economy by 2047. A multifaceted strategy is needed to advance India’s aspiration to become a $30 trillion economy by 2047. While capital investment and consumer spending are important, developing intellectual capital is critical. Moreover, developing innovative ecosystems and establishing institutions focused on generating and applying new knowledge are essential. In MAHE, we are committed to delivering multidisciplinary education to develop outstanding human resources, especially for healthcare, technology, industry, social sciences, arts and humanities sectors.

I believe India is poised to become the world’s intellectual hub once again. And MAHE is responding to this national development narrative by actively shaping it.

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