Bengaluru, October 10, 2025 : Vidyashilp University is pleased to announce three significant
academic leadership appointments: Prof. P. S. Sastry will lead
as Distinguished professor, School of Computational & Data Sciences, Prof.
(Dr.) Roopa Madhav joins as Dean, School of Legal Studies &
Governance, Prof. Chandan Gowda joins as Dean, School
of Liberal Arts, and These appointments underscore VU’s commitment to
building a world-class, interdisciplinary institution anchored in global
research, ethical leadership, and innovation.
“These appointments mark a defining moment in
Vidyashilp’s trajectory,” said Dr. Kiran Pai, Pro-Chancellor. “In a
time when challenges cross borders—climate justice, algorithmic fairness,
cultural pluralism—our university must be a node of global thought and local
impact. Prof. Sastry brings technological depth at the frontier of AI and
learning systems; Prof. Madhav brings deep legal insight into governance and
environmental equity; and Prof. Gowda brings an avowed commitment to bridging
scholarship and society. Together, they will not just serve our students—they
will help shape global discourses, attract collaborative research, and chart
new directions for India’s knowledge ecosystems.”
“We are not just filling leadership posts; we are
making strategic bets on frontier ideas and global integration,” said Prof.
P. G. Babu, Vice-Chancellor. “Prof. Sastry , Prof. Madhav, Prof. Gowda and
will lead curriculum evolution, research scalability, and institutional
partnerships that reach beyond national boundaries. In an inter-systemic world,
we must nurture faculty and students who can hold their own anywhere—from
Bengaluru to Boston to Bermuda. These new deans will be central to accelerating
interdisciplinary programs, international exchange, industry-academia
convergence, and positioning Vidyashilp University as a beacon in the new
global knowledge order.”
Leadership Profiles & Vision
Prof. P. S. Sastry — Dean, School of Computational
& Data Sciences
Prof. P. S. Sastry, Honorary Professor at IISc
Bengaluru, is a well-known researcher in machine learning, neural
networks, and computational neuroscience. An alumnus of IIT Kharagpur and
IISc, he has served IISc for nearly four decades, guided 25+ research scholars,
and held visiting positions at top global institutions including the University
of Michigan and Texas A&M. A Fellow of INAE and NASI, his awards include
the IISc Alumni Award for Excellence in Research, Sir C.V. Raman Award,
and Hari Om Ashram Vikram Sarabhai Award. At VU, he will help
create research clusters, strengthen AI/ML education to train graduates with a
broad perspective on this fast-evolving technology, and expand
industry–academia collaborations. Under his leadership, VU will strive to
establish focussed research groups, forge international collaborations, launch
applied AI projects, and train students for leadership roles global industries
and research labs.
Prof. (Dr.) Roopa Madhav — Dean, School of Legal
Studies & Governance
Prof. (Dr.) Roopa Madhav, an expert in environmental
law, labour rights, and regulatory governance, holds a Ph.D. from SOAS,
University of London, an LL.M. from New York University, and a B.A. LL.B (Hons)
from NLSIU, Bengaluru. She has previously served on the faculty at NLU
Delhi and TISS Mumbai, and has worked with national policy groups
and global rights and labour networks. A widely published scholar, her
works include Water Law for the Twenty-First Century (Routledge,
2009), Water Governance in Motion (Cambridge, 2010),
and Mapping Legalities: Urbanisation, Law and Informal Work (Routledge,
2024). Currently, she is a co-researcher on an ERC-funded project on
sectoral water conflicts in South Asia. At VU, she brings her extensive
experience in legal education, research, and collaboration to establish policy
labs, cross-border legal partnerships, and advance justice and sustainability
within governance frameworks.
Prof. Chandan Gowda — Dean, School of Liberal Arts
and Sciences
Prof. Chandan Gowda holds a Ph.D. in Sociology
from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and has previously served
as Ramakrishna Hegde Chair Professor at ISEC Bengaluru, as well as
faculty at Azim Premji University and NLSIU, Bengaluru. His
research spans social theory, Indian normative traditions, Kannada
literature, and cinema, and his recent book Another India
(Simon and Schuster, 2023) explores the interface between culture, ethics,
and politics. At VU, he leads efforts to strengthen liberal arts education,
foster an interdisciplinary knowledge hub, and create platforms for public
conversations.
Global Perspective & Institutional Strategy
With this leadership infusion, Vidyashilp
University is stepping confidently onto the global stage. The new deans
will drive:
- Strategic
alliances with leading universities and
researchers across the US, Europe, and Asia
- Degree
pathways and exchange programmes that create
true borderless classrooms
- Globally
benchmarked curricula and accreditation dialogues to ensure world-class standards
- Collaborative
research clusters in AI ethics, environmental
law, cultural studies, Psychology, and technology policy, etc.
- A
renewed focus on India Rising 2047, positioning VU as a
knowledge hub shaping India’s role in the global education and innovation
economy
About Vidyashilp University
Vidyashilp University (VU), Bengaluru, is a
next-generation university building a global education experience with deep
Indian roots. Established by the Vidyashilp Education Group — a name synonymous
with over three decades of excellence through Vidyashilp Academy, Vidyashilp
School, Vidya Nivas, and Vidyashilp Pre-Schools — the University carries
forward a legacy of nurturing curious, ethical, and future-ready learners.
Under the visionary leadership of Dr. Kiran Pai, Pro-Chancellor, and Dr. P.G.
Babu, Vice Chancellor, VU is designed as an ecosystem where world-class
faculty, research-driven pedagogy, and industry integration meet India’s
aspirations for 2047 and beyond. Its five schools — the School of Liberal Arts
& Sciences, School of Engineering & Technology, School of Design,
School of Law, and School of Business — offer an interdisciplinary education
that equips students to think critically, innovate boldly, and lead with
purpose on the global stage, while staying rooted in the values and
opportunities of India. Website: www.vidyashilp.edu.in