Distinguished academician Prof Prakash Gopalan joins NIIT University (NU) as the new President. With a PhD from Purdue University, US, and an MTech from IIT Kanpur, Prof Gopalan has been associated with IIT Mumbai for over 26 years. Prof Gopalan will work closely with faculty, staff, and the founders – Shri Rajendra Pawar and Shri Vijay Thadani – to shape NU’s vision and lead its educational and research missions. 

The visionaries Rajendra S Pawar and Vijay Thadani collaborated with the foremost thought leaders of our country, to create a new model of higher education that is relevant to the industry requirements of the 21st century. Built on four core principles: strong links with industry, technology-based education, research-driven mindset, and seamless interface between various departments, NIIT University resonates with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.  

In his illustrious career, Prof Prakash Gopalan has taught over 12 core courses at IIT Mumbai for over 26 years and received the Best Teacher Award in 2000. As the Dean of Student Affairs at IIT Mumbai from September 2005 to September 2011, he focused on enhancing student well-being and discipline, introducing innovative improvements to the student counseling and mentorship programs, and earned the unique distinction of being invited to serve a second term based on exceptional performance feedback from the IIT Mumbai student community. 

Prof. Gopalan has solved the problem of crystallography that eluded solution for more than two centuries. This work has been cited highly in the chemical science literature. He has 71 publications in internationally referred journals and 29 papers in National and International conferences to his credit. Prof Gopalan has served as a Director at Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, Patiala. He has also held visiting positions at Purdue and Northwestern University. 

Welcoming Prof Gopalan, Rajendra S Pawar, Founder, NIIT University said, “Prof Gopalan is a great fit for NU. We are delighted to welcome our new President to our university family. His vision, leadership, and commitment to academic excellence align perfectly with our mission to nurture the future leaders of tomorrow. We are excited to embark on this journey with him, knowing that under his guidance, our university will reach new heights of success and continue to be a beacon of knowledge and innovation. Together, we will empower generations to come and make a lasting impact on the world. Congratulations and here’s to a bright and promising future for our beloved university.” 

Talking about his new role at NU, Prof Gopalan said, “I am deeply honored to assume the role of President at this prestigious university. I would like to express my profound gratitude to the entire university community for entrusting me with this responsibility. Together, we embark on a journey to foster academic excellence, innovation, and inclusivity. I am excited to collaborate with our exceptional faculty, staff, and students to create a brighter future. Thank you for this privilege, and I eagerly anticipate the remarkable work we will achieve together.” 

NIIT University is well poised to meet the emerging needs of the knowledge economy through its focus on building strong industry linkages and a research-oriented approach. Apart from imparting a deep knowledge of technology, NU also ensures a great future by not only preparing students for new-age job roles but also helping them become job creators. With a focus on sustainability, NU works towards bringing students closer to nature and teaches them to give back to the environment. 

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