V. N. Rajasekharan Pillai
Encyclopedia
V. N. Rajasekharan Pillai was the sixth Vice-Chancellor of the Indira Gandhi National Open University
or IGNOU, New Delhi and also by default, the Chairman of the Distance Education Council
( DEC), which looks after the co-ordination of standards, quality, recognition and developmental assistance to all of the 13 State Open Universities, over 150 Distance Education Institutes in the Conventional Universities
and in other private Open and Distance Learning institutions in the country.
An active teacher and researcher in the field of Chemical Sciences
, Pillai has held post-doctoral and visiting research professor positions in the University of Tübingen (Germany), Mainz
, Germany
and Lausanne
(Switzerland
). He created an internationally renowned research group in the area of biopolymers and peptides and has published extensively (about 200 refereed research publications in international journals) in this area. Over 50 doctoral researchers have been guided by him, all of them now occupying leading positions in academia, R&D, and industry in India and abroad. His research publications have received over 1600 citations during the last 18 years and he is one among the top-cited chemists in the country. He holds an International patent for the gram-scale preparation of biologically important peptides.
, Director of the (NAAC)
, Bangalore
, Vice-Chancellor of the Mahatma Gandhi University
, Kottayam, Kerala
, Vice-Chancellor of the Cochin University of Science and Technology, Founder-Director of the School of Chemical Sciences; Dean of Faculty of Science; Controller of Examinations; Director of College Development Council; Founder-Director of the School of Professional Distance Education and Chief, Employment and Information Guidance Bureau of the Mahatma Gandhi University
.
from the Prime Minister of India
. In 2007, he has been conferred the Triennial National M. V. Pylee Award for the Top Academician of India. In 2006, Pillai was recognized by the R.R. Varma Foundation Best Teacher Award. In 2005, he received the Indian Chemical Society Award for his life-long research achievements in the area of chemical sciences. In 1996, Pillai received the Materials Research Society of India Lecture Award. His contributions to science and education have also been recognized by the conferment of honorary doctorates. Widely traveled all over the world, Pillai has presented papers, given invited and plenary lectures, chaired sessions in a large number of National and International conferences, delivered Convocation Addresses, Endowment Lectures and Special Orations in a large number of Universities and institutions. He has hosted several National and International discussions meetings including Indian Academy of Sciences
Annual Meeting and Vice-Chancellors Conferences. He is a Fellow of the prestigious Indian Academy of Sciences and an Honorary Senior Fellow of the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore.{[cn}}
) with the Nation's
top and most prestigious companies, associations, and institutes.
Under his leadership, IGNOU created many milestones. The University saw the largest ever expansion under his leadership with several new schools having been created in order to meet with the need for Vocation Training in a robust economy like India.
In 2011, he worked continuously to see the establishment of Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre, the first of its kind in India.
In addition to this, Prof. Pillai successfully established the South Zone Campus in Thriuvananthapuram, Kerala
which would cater to the needs of the students in Karnataka
, Tamil Nadu
, Kerala
Andhra Pradesh
and Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshwadeep.
Indira Gandhi National Open University
The Indira Gandhi National Open University , known as IGNOU is a national university with its headquarters in New Delhi, Delhi, India. Named after former Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, the university was established in 1985 with a budget of 2000 crore, when the Parliament of India passed...
or IGNOU, New Delhi and also by default, the Chairman of the Distance Education Council
Distance Education Council
Distance Education Council is an organisation based in New Delhi, India responsible for the promotion and coordination of the open university and distance education system and for determination of its standards in India. The Council was constituted under the Indira Gandhi National Open University...
( DEC), which looks after the co-ordination of standards, quality, recognition and developmental assistance to all of the 13 State Open Universities, over 150 Distance Education Institutes in the Conventional Universities
Universities and colleges in India
-North India:*Chandigarh*Delhi*Haryana*Himachal Pradesh*Jammu and Kashmir*Punjab*Rajasthan*Uttar Pradesh*Uttarakhand-South India:*Andhra Pradesh*Karnataka*Kerala*Pondicherry*Tamil Nadu-East India:*Bihar*Jharkhand*Orissa*West Bengal-West India:...
and in other private Open and Distance Learning institutions in the country.
Role In Higher Education
Pillai has been at the helm of affairs of many higher education institutions during his career spanning over 37 years. His experiences and contributions to the field of science and educational administration are rich and varied.An active teacher and researcher in the field of Chemical Sciences
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
, Pillai has held post-doctoral and visiting research professor positions in the University of Tübingen (Germany), Mainz
Mainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Lausanne
Lausanne
Lausanne is a city in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland, and is the capital of the canton of Vaud. The seat of the district of Lausanne, the city is situated on the shores of Lake Geneva . It faces the French town of Évian-les-Bains, with the Jura mountains to its north-west...
(Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
). He created an internationally renowned research group in the area of biopolymers and peptides and has published extensively (about 200 refereed research publications in international journals) in this area. Over 50 doctoral researchers have been guided by him, all of them now occupying leading positions in academia, R&D, and industry in India and abroad. His research publications have received over 1600 citations during the last 18 years and he is one among the top-cited chemists in the country. He holds an International patent for the gram-scale preparation of biologically important peptides.
Academic and Administrative Positions Held
Pillai has served as the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC)University Grants Commission (India)
The University Grants Commission of India is a statutory organisation set up by Union government in 1956, for the coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of university education. It provides recognition for universities in India, and provides funds for government-recognised...
, Director of the (NAAC)
National Assessment and Accreditation Council
The National Assessment and Accreditation Council is an organization that assesses and accredits institutions of higher education in India. It is an autonomous body funded by University Grants Commission of Government of India headquartered in Bangalore.-History:NAAC was established in 1994 in...
, Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
, Vice-Chancellor of the Mahatma Gandhi University
Mahatma Gandhi University
Mahatma Gandhi University, also known as M G University, was established on 2 October 1983 in Kottayam. The University Grants Commission of India does not believe that the names of Indian universities should be unique, so another UGC-recognized government-run Mahatma Gandhi University was...
, Kottayam, Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, Vice-Chancellor of the Cochin University of Science and Technology, Founder-Director of the School of Chemical Sciences; Dean of Faculty of Science; Controller of Examinations; Director of College Development Council; Founder-Director of the School of Professional Distance Education and Chief, Employment and Information Guidance Bureau of the Mahatma Gandhi University
Mahatma Gandhi University
Mahatma Gandhi University, also known as M G University, was established on 2 October 1983 in Kottayam. The University Grants Commission of India does not believe that the names of Indian universities should be unique, so another UGC-recognized government-run Mahatma Gandhi University was...
.
Awards and recognition
In January 2008, he received the Presidential Gold Medal of the Indian Science CongressIndian Science Congress Association
Indian Science Congress Association is a premier scientific organisation of India,started in the year 1914, with Headquarters at Kolkata.. It meets annually in the first week of January every year.-Introduction:...
from the Prime Minister of India
Prime Minister of India
The Prime Minister of India , as addressed to in the Constitution of India — Prime Minister for the Union, is the chief of government, head of the Council of Ministers and the leader of the majority party in parliament...
. In 2007, he has been conferred the Triennial National M. V. Pylee Award for the Top Academician of India. In 2006, Pillai was recognized by the R.R. Varma Foundation Best Teacher Award. In 2005, he received the Indian Chemical Society Award for his life-long research achievements in the area of chemical sciences. In 1996, Pillai received the Materials Research Society of India Lecture Award. His contributions to science and education have also been recognized by the conferment of honorary doctorates. Widely traveled all over the world, Pillai has presented papers, given invited and plenary lectures, chaired sessions in a large number of National and International conferences, delivered Convocation Addresses, Endowment Lectures and Special Orations in a large number of Universities and institutions. He has hosted several National and International discussions meetings including Indian Academy of Sciences
Indian Academy of Sciences
The Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore was founded by Sir C. V. Raman, and was registered as a Society on 24 April 1934. Inaugurated on 31 July 1934, it began with 65 founding fellows. The first general meeting of Fellows, held on the same day, elected Professor Raman as President, and adopted...
Annual Meeting and Vice-Chancellors Conferences. He is a Fellow of the prestigious Indian Academy of Sciences and an Honorary Senior Fellow of the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore.{[cn}}
Vice Chancellor in IGNOU
With his joining of the Indira Gandhi National Open University, he has led the University to scale new heights and has nearly doubled the number of academic programs on offer by signing numerous Memorandum of Understandings (MoUMOU
MOU, MoU, Mou or mou may refer to:* Memorandum of understanding* Minutes of Use, in telecommunication operations* Ministry of Unification, a branch of the South Korean government.* The Museum of Osaka University...
) with the Nation's
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
top and most prestigious companies, associations, and institutes.
Under his leadership, IGNOU created many milestones. The University saw the largest ever expansion under his leadership with several new schools having been created in order to meet with the need for Vocation Training in a robust economy like India.
In 2011, he worked continuously to see the establishment of Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre, the first of its kind in India.
In addition to this, Prof. Pillai successfully established the South Zone Campus in Thriuvananthapuram, Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
which would cater to the needs of the students in Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
, Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
and Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshwadeep.