Advisory Board
Dr. Arun Nigavekar
Raja Ramanna Fellow, Former Chairman, UGC, Former VC, Pune University, Founder Director
NAAC, Senior Advisor, Science & Technology Park
Professor Arun Nigavekar, born in 1942, is a well-known Physicist and renowned educationist
with 40 years of experience. His significant contributions have been use of technology
for enhancement of utility and quality of higher education and internationalization
of higher education. The path breaking one being an initiation of concept of Quality
in Higher Education, for which he is aptly called as a father of quality movement
in higher education in India. He was a Dakshina Fellowship holder of Rajaram College
in Kolhapur and got educated in Pune and Uppsala in Sweden where he held SIDA Fellowship.
He was Chairman and Vice Chairman of UGC between 2000 & 2005. He was a moving force
behind formulating of strategy for development of higher education in the Tenth
Plan of Government of India. He was a member of Scientific Advisory Committee to
the Cabinet during 2002-2005. Before moving to Delhi he was a Vice Chancellor of
University of Pune, a university that attained a status of University with Potential
for Excellence under his leadership.
He has held several positions. Basically a Professor in Materials Science in Pune
University since 1977, he established Center for Advanced Studies in Physics in
Pune in 1980. He has 70 research publications to his credit. He was a Director of
Educational Media Research Center in Pune and established Communication Science
Department in Pune University in nineties. He was a Visiting Professor in University
of York in U.K. and University of Western Ontario in Canada in eighties.
His contributions in science education, as a founder editor of Physics Educational
Journal, a journal of international repute, are recognized globally. He is a permanent
member and was Vice-Chairman of Asian Physics Education Network, a UNESCO organization.
He was a member of UGC in 1993-1996 and initiated several reforms like decentralization
of UGC administration, corpus for higher education institution. He was a founder
Director of National Assessment and Accreditation Council, an autonomous body of
UGC. He developed instrument and methodology for judging quality in complex Indian
higher education system, which is endorsed by International Network for Quality
Assuring Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE). He was a member of Distance Education
Council and is also an adviser to Commonwealth of Learning in Canada. He has visited
35 countries as an invitee for giving lectures in seminars. He has been awarded
Honorary Doctorate Degree by Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University, Nagarjuna University,
Guru Nanak Dev University, Jagadguru Rambhadracharya Handicapped University, University
of Calicut and Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University. He has won several honors notably
being Phia Foundation Award, UNESCO honor, Swami Vivekanand Award, Advocate D R
Nagakar Award, Shiromani Award, Delhi Ratan Award.
Present Professional Involvements:
Presently he is involved in following activities:
- Creation of a “Growth Lab”, an initiative of Science & Technology Park in collaboration
with Pimpari Chinchwad Muncipal Corporation (PCMC) and Department of Science & Technology
for supporting young entrepreneurs to incubate industries in emerging science and
technology fields. The “Growth Lab” is now a reality and eight small industries
are presently operating on the premises of Growth Lab.
- Conceptualization of Science Park for PCMC. The objective is to blend education,
science, technology and entertainment to create a place for everyone (children,
youth and citizens in general) where one can experience in real and virtual mode
{and in turn learn and understand} the marvelous of science and technology that
have transformed our life and also have allowed us to know nature and our Mother
Earth and Universe some more. The entertainment would form an integral part of this
Science Park so as to make entire activity financially viable. PCMC has given 40acres
of land and has formed Company under section 25 of Companies Act for promoting Science
Park.
- Works as a member of Board of Directors of ILFS-ETS and advises the Company on
Academic policy and creation of e learning materials.
- Is a Member of Planning Board of Symbiosis International University, Pune.
- Is a Member of Syndicate Academia of Nulsi Moolji Institute for Management Studies,
Mumbai.
-
Interacts with several companies for development of innovative products for use
of ICT in education.
Mr. Sunil Govardhan
A Chartered Accountant with more than 25 years of experience. He has been associated
with Rathi Dye Chem for almost 20 years and is currently a key Financial Management
Advisor there. He is a thought leader in the field of Corporate Governance and a
key influencer of Rathi Dye Chem’s successful growth trajectory. He is the Sr. Partner
in S. M. Govardhan & Co. and Director (Finance) at Rathi Dye Chem.