Administration

Prof. Ravindra D. Kulkarni, Vice-Chancellor, University of Mumbai (Category I University with NAAC A++ Grade) and Sr. Professor, ICT, Mumbai (Elite Institute of Government of Maharashtra)

Prof. Ravindra D. Kulkarni, holding 33 years of rich experience in the field of Chemical Technology, is currently the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mumbai (UoM) since June 08, 2023. Before joining as Vice-Chancellor, he served as Pro-Vice-Chancellor at the University of Mumbai; Head and Sr. Professor at the Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai, and Professor and Director at UICT, North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon (MS). He is holding additional charge of Vice-Chancellor of Homi Bhabha State University, Mumbai since June 2026.

His Research statistics covers Ph.D. guidance (19 Ph.D. awards, 2 PDF, 64 M Tech), PEER Reviewed publications (+90 with Cumulative I.F:250+), 05 Granted Patents [01 Malaysian Product Patent, 03 Indian Process Patents (2 Commercialized) and 1 Indian Design Patent], 06 Book Chapters, 16 R & D Projects (DST SERB, AICTE, RUSA, DRDO-BARNS, UGC projects, Rs. 2 crores+), Consultancy Assignments for renowned industries in India and Abroad (10 Projects, Rs. 65 lakh+) and Infrastructure Projects (DST -FIST, UGC SAP, AICE-MODROB, TEQIP-II Rs.15.0 Crores+).

He is recipient of several prestigious awards and recognitions such as the LITAA- LITU Jewel Award-2024, UAA-ICT Distinguished Alumnus Award-2022, Prof. J. G. Kane Memorial Award-2021, Fellow of Maharashtra Academy of Sciences (FMASc), Elected Life Fellow of Indian Chemical Society (FICS), ‘Transformational Higher Education Leader 2026-27’ by EducationWorld, Hon’ble Member, Marathi Vidnyan Parishad, Lifetime Achievement Award-2026’ by UICT, KBC North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon, “Sarvottam Nagarik Samman-2025”, and AMDP, Korea, and Surface Coating International (JOCCA), Australia for best Research Paper Awards. He is working on various consultancy assignments for renowned industries in India and abroad. He has widely traveled to the US, European, and Asian Countries for Conference Presentations, Professional Collaborations, and Visits to various Universities.

Under his Adroit Leadership as PVC/VC, the University of Mumbai was bestowed with an A++ grade with a CGPA of 3.65 in 2021 by NAAC, Category-I University Status in 2023 by the UGC, SEVAKARMI Puraskar by Govt of Maharashtra in 2026, FICCI Award for Excellence in Globalisation of Higher Education (2025), Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Chair and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Centre of Excellence by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt of India in 2025, Centre of Excellence in Heritage Languages and Cultural Studies by Ministry of Minority Affairs, Govt of India PM-USHA Funding by the Ministry of Education, Govt of India in 2024 and ANRF-PAIR Funding as Spoke with IITB as Hub in 2025. He is leading University with many Innovative and Sustainable Plans such as Heritage Conservation Initiatives, Climate Skill Programme and Carbon Neutral Campus, Facilitation of Functioning of Accelerator for Pharmaceutical, Perfumery, Biofuel Industries and Carbon Dating Analysis, NEP implementation through Novel Methodologies and Innovative Approach, strengthening of Instrumentation Facilities, Internationalization of Higher Education through linkages with World Class US and European Universities, etc.

Prof. Kulkarni was entrusted with responsibilities such as Visitor Nominee for faculty selection at IIT-M, many NITs, and IISER; Chancellor Nominee for selection of Statutory Officers in State Universities and Expert on various UGC, Central and State Government Committees, Chairman / Member in the Search-Cum-Selection Committee for Selection of Vice Chancellor in the Universities at Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Odisha, Maharashtra and Kerala. He is also the Convener, Fatty Acids, FAD Subgroup on Oils, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). He served as President (2023-26) of Oil Technologists’ Association of India (WZ) - the association representing Technocrats, Scientists, and Industries working in the field of Oils, Oleochemicals and Surfactant Tech.

Prof. Kulkarni served as Chairman of the Committee to design the 4-year Multidisciplinary Degree and Dual Degree Programme in line with NEP-2020, Higher and Technical Education Department, Government of Maharashtra. Prof. Kulkarni is also working as Chairman- MahaSARC, Member of the Maharashtra State NEP Implementation Steering Committee/ NEP Task Force, Govt of Maharashtra, Managing Committee of Regional Institute of Education (constituent unit of NCERT), Bhopal, and Chairperson of the UGC Western Zonal Committee for implementation of NEP. In this capacity, he was associated with holistic implementation of Multidisciplinary Curricular Framework and other important features (MahaSARC, UDRF, LOCF, OJT, IKS, Blended Learning, Assessment Reforms, promotion of Technical Curricular content in Bharatiya Bhasha) across State Universities in Maharashtra. He is also serving as UGC nominee on the Council of the IUCAA, Pune, BoG, BOAT-WR, Pune, Governing Board of the INFLIBNET, Gandhinagar, and General Council, NAAC, Bangalore.