In a major move to bring the American standard of education to India for the first time by conferring the academic stewardship to an international academician and researcher, Universal AI University, India’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) University has named Dr Simon Mak, an international academic, strategist and an award winning professor with vast expertise in Silicon Valley start-ups, as the vice chancellor of the university. Dr Simon Mak, an international academic, strategist and an award winning professor with vast expertise in Silicon Valley start-ups, as the vice chancellor of the university. Prof Tarundeep Singh Anand, chancellor of Universal AI University announced his appointment recently.

Universal AI University has thus become the first university in India to have a foreign national, an American, at its helm as a founding vice chancellor who will shape up the university and its academics to American standards of education.

While there are a few educationists and academicians of Indian origin, had studied or settled abroad only to return to India to helm the leadership positions at certain varsities, but having a foreign national as a vice chancellor with an enviable track record carrying a pedigree of a graduate degree like that of the famed Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA and vast experience from the Silicon Valley in the areas of entrepreneurship, strategy and technology, is the first occasion in any Indian University.
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Dr. Mak will work closely with Prof. Tarundeep Singh Anand, chancellor of Universal AI University and lead the team dedicated to enhancing the global stature of the university with its new-age AI-driven curriculum and ensure ethical global standards in education. Dr Mak will share his expertise in rankings, accreditation, curriculum and degree design, executive education development, global programmes and community service programmes.

Comments Prof. Tarundeep Singh Anand, “Dr. Mak, well-acquainted with the strategic and entrepreneurial landscape, recognises that the Universal AI University is distinctively unique and excellent, providing the finest blend of multilateral AI-led education in various streams to create global corporate leaders of future. With his long-standing experience in nurturing start-ups and entrepreneurship in Silicon Valley, he will drive the highest ideals for university education. We share a common belief that the Universal AI University is worthy of the high quality of new-age academics to advance its mission in rebuilding culture through educational excellence.”

Delighted to assume the new role as a vice chancellor of Universal AI University, Dr Mak said, “It is one of the finest opportunities to be at India’s first AI University in this capacity, especially when India is at the crossroads of becoming a global economic power by producing talented leaders and managers to lead the world businesses and startups and Universal AI University is braced to shape up this new-age talented leaders with its AI – led academic prowess. Since Universal Al University is in the startup stage, I am keen to bring an entrepreneur’s mindset as an university administrator with my immersive experience and learning. I also would like to bring the highest standards of ethical standards to university education in India.”

He added, “I have personally experienced the entrepreneurial mindset needed to grow a world-class business school and also the entrepreneurship. ln the classroom, I am very passionate about teaching students to #DowellByDoingwell.”

Dr Mak has previously served as an executive director at the Caruth Institute for Entrepreneurship and Professor of Practice in the Department of Strategy, Entrepreneurship, and Business Economics at the SMU Cox School of Business. He was one of the leaders at SMU in researching blockchain and created an MBA class called Blockchain Entrepreneurship where he taught about CryptoKitties as one of the first NFT (Non-Fungible Token) startup business models.

Dr. Mak graduated with a B.Tech Degree from the famed Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA and completed his MBA and Ph. D. from SMU Cox School of Business. He has served as a successful entrepreneur in Silicon Valley and Japan. He has traveled to London, Berlin, Malta, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Israel, Beijing, and Shanghai researching blockchain startups.

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