Prof. (Dr.) Yogesh C. Goswami is the Vice Chancellor at Shri Vaishnav Vidyapeeth Vishwavidyalaya Indore. He is a key decision maker with more than 25 years of experience in higher education, research, and academic administration. Prof. (Dr.) Yogesh C. Goswami specializes in Physics and Nanotechnology and has held several senior leadership positions, including Dean (Research & Development), Dean (International Cooperation and Projects), and Dean (Student Welfare) at ITM University, Gwalior. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC), Senior Member of IEEE, and recipient of the AICTE Career Award for Young Teachers. Prof. Goswami has led various national and international research projects, including the DST ASEAN Trilateral Project involving India, Indonesia, and Myanmar. He is also the Founder Member and Secretary of the Global Academy of Doctorates (GAD) and has organized several academic conferences focused on doctoral research. With more than 110 research publications and extensive contributions in nanomaterials, optoelectronics, semiconducting thin films, and sustainability-focused research, he is recognized for promoting academic excellence and innovation-driven education.

Prof. (Dr.) Yogesh C. Goswami

Q1. You have held key positions at education institutes throughout your professional career. What keeps you connected with the Education Sector and how has your experience been so far with the institute?

Education is not merely a profession for me — it is a calling rooted in purpose. What keeps me deeply connected to this sector is the extraordinary privilege of witnessing transformation: of young minds becoming confident professionals, curious learners becoming leaders, and potential becoming achievement.

Across my career in academia — spanning research, administration, and institution-building — the one constant has been the conviction that education is India's most powerful lever for change. At SVVV, that conviction finds its most fulfilling expression. Here, we are not just running programs; we are shaping futures.

My experience at Shri Vaishnav Vidyapeeth Vishwavidyalaya has been nothing short of inspiring. The university carries a 142-year-old legacy of the Shri Vaishnav Group of Trusts — a heritage that breathes values, ethical commitment, and community service into every aspect of our work. Being part of an institution that was built by visionary cloth merchants of Indore in 1884 as an act of social service, and now stands as a NAAC 'A' Grade accredited, UGC-recognised multi-disciplinary university, is humbling and energising in equal measure.

What I love most is the dynamism here — the students, the faculty, the relentless push to innovate. SVVV is not resting on tradition; it is using tradition as a launchpad for the future. That synergy between our ancient roots and our future-ready ambition is what makes working here deeply satisfying.

Q2. Being the VC of SVVV, what is your philosophy of leadership? How would you describe your leadership style?

My leadership philosophy can be summed up in three words: Enable, Empower, Excel. I believe the primary role of a leader in an academic institution is not to command, but to create conditions in which every individual — student, faculty, or staff — can discover and deploy their best.

I draw deeply from the Indian tradition of the Guru-Shishya relationship, where the leader is first a learner, a facilitator of potential, and a guardian of values. But I pair that timeless wisdom with the demands of the modern knowledge economy. We need leaders today who are both visionary and grounded, bold in strategy and empathetic in execution.

My style is collaborative and consultative. I strongly believe in building institutional consensus before acting on big decisions. At SVVV, I have actively worked to foster a culture where faculty feel heard, students feel inspired, and administrative teams feel trusted. This participatory approach to leadership also aligns beautifully with the NEP 2020 vision of decentralised, flexible, and outcome-oriented higher education.

Q3. How do you strategize about the key programs and plans for the marketing and administration of your university as the VC of SVVV?

Strategy at SVVV flows from a simple but powerful question: What does the student of 2030 need, and are we ready to deliver it today? That question drives every decision we make — about programs, partnerships, infrastructure, and communication.

On the academic side, our strategy centres on 'Industry-Endorsed' curriculum design. We do not create programs in isolation. We co-develop them with industry partners, ensuring that every module, every skill set, and every outcome aligns with real-world requirements. Our association with global technology leaders like IBM, Apple Authorised Training Centers, and Microsoft, along with our TCS Priority Institution status, reflects this commitment.

For administration, I believe in data-driven governance. We track placement outcomes, student satisfaction, research output, and faculty development on a continuous basis. This enables agile decision-making rather than year-end course corrections.

On the outreach and marketing front, our approach is authenticity-first. We let our outcomes speak. With a highest placement package of ₹47 LPA, over 2,000+ placements annually, rankings from The Week, Outlook, and NIRF, and an AA+ rating from Careers360, our credibility is built on performance — not just promises. I believe that today's student is smart and well-informed. They respond to honesty, transparency, and tangible proof of outcomes. That is our marketing philosophy.

Q4. The education systems in India and other foreign countries are structured very differently. In your experience, what can an inbound student gain from studying here at SVVV?

India's higher education landscape has undergone a remarkable transformation, and SVVV sits at the heart of that transformation. What an inbound student gains here is something genuinely unique — a world-class education deeply rooted in civilisational wisdom.

Academically, SVVV offers multidisciplinary programs across Engineering, Management, Science, Design, Law, Commerce, Architecture, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and more — all under one 53-acre urban campus in Indore, one of India's most vibrant and fastest-growing cities. Our programs are aligned with NEP 2020, offering flexibility, multiple entry-exit points, and credit-based learning.

Beyond academics, students at SVVV gain exposure to India's living knowledge traditions through our Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) integration. This is not nostalgic historicism — it is about giving students cognitive tools and cultural intelligence that no Western curriculum can fully provide.

Indore itself is a tremendous asset — regularly ranked India's cleanest city, it offers an unmatched quality of life, safety, affordability, and a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. For international and outstation students, SVVV offers modern hostel facilities, campus transport, a central library with 50,000+ books, digital labs with 700+ laptops, healthcare, and a welcoming, inclusive community.

Perhaps most importantly, students at SVVV develop a rare combination: technical competence, ethical grounding, and cultural fluency. These are the qualities that 21st-century employers across the world are seeking

Q5. How does the curriculum of SVVV ensure the best practice of industry?

This is one of our proudest differentiators. At SVVV, 'Industry-Endorsed' curriculum is not a tagline — it is a rigorous, ongoing process that ensures our students never encounter a gap between what they learn in the classroom and what employers expect on Day One.

We have established strategic partnerships with globally recognised technology and industry leaders. Our association with IBM covers cutting-edge domains like Quantum Computing, Generative AI, Data Science, Full Stack Development, Blockchain, and IoT. Our Apple Authorized Training Center status allows us to offer AI-powered mobile application development. Microsoft Technologies and other global partners further extend this ecosystem.

These are not just MoU signings on paper. They translate into co-designed curricula, industry-delivered modules, live project exposure, internships, certifications, and direct recruitment pipelines. Tata Consultancy Services has recognised us as a Priority Institution — a recognition earned through consistent delivery of job-ready graduates.

Our Centers of Excellence — including unique facilities in Plasma Research and Forensic Science — ensure that students work on real problems using real equipment. We also host national events like VOID HACKS (our National Hackathon), the CSI National Student Convention KAUSHAL, and MSME Idea Hackathons that challenge students to solve actual industry problems.

The result? Over 80% of our eligible students are placed each year, with top recruiters like Capgemini, Infosys, TCS, HCL, Wipro, Accenture, HSBC, L&T Infotech, and Deloitte visiting our campus regularly. That track record is the ultimate certification of our curriculum's industry relevance.

Q6. Any insights into how SVVV could be more welcoming to students of different races or economic backgrounds?

Inclusivity is not an aspiration at SVVV — it is a founding principle. The Shri Vaishnav Group of Trusts was established in 1884 by merchants who believed education was a public good, not a private privilege. That spirit lives on in everything we do.

On the economic front, SVVV offers a comprehensive scholarship ecosystem designed to ensure that financial constraints never become a barrier to quality education. We provide Merit Scholarships, Merit-cum-Means Scholarships, the Kalpana Chawla Scholarship for science and technology aspirants, SC/ST/OBC Scholarships, and Defence Scholarships for children of armed forces personnel. Additionally, with fee structures ranging from ₹85,000 per annum for B.Tech and ₹1.10 lakhs for MBA, we remain among the most affordable quality universities in Central India.

On cultural inclusivity, our campus hosts students from across Madhya Pradesh, neighbouring states, and increasingly from other parts of India and abroad. Our multilingual campus culture — respectful of regional, cultural, and linguistic diversity — ensures that no student ever feels like an outsider.

We are also actively deepening our engagement with the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — the world is one family — through international collaborations, including our MoU with St. Cloud State University, USA, which opens pathways for academic exchange and global exposure.

My vision is for SVVV to be a campus where merit is the only admission criterion that matters, and where every student — regardless of background — finds the support, encouragement, and opportunity they need to succeed.

Q7. What do you think your roles and responsibilities to the University and the students are?

A Vice Chancellor's role is, at its core, an act of trusteeship. You are entrusted with something precious — the aspirations of thousands of young people, the legacy of an institution, and the responsibility of preparing citizens for the future.

To the university, my responsibility is institutional integrity — ensuring that every decision, every appointment, every policy is guided by the highest standards of academic excellence and ethical governance. It means building systems and cultures that outlast any individual tenure.

To the students, my responsibility is personal and non-negotiable: to ensure that every student who walks into SVVV walks out with more than a degree. They should walk out with confidence, competence, and character. If I achieve that, I have done my job.

Practically, this means investing in faculty development so that the people who teach our students are themselves at the cutting edge of knowledge. It means building infrastructure — labs, libraries, incubation centres, sports facilities — that support holistic growth. It means ensuring the placement cell is not just a reactive body but a proactive career architecture team.

And it means being accessible. I maintain an open-door culture because I believe that the best ideas often come from the most unexpected places — a student's question, a faculty member's observation, a parent's concern. The day I become inaccessible is the day I start losing touch with the very purpose of this role.

Q8. What do you think should be the University's top priority over the next 10 years?

The next decade will be defined by convergence — of disciplines, of technologies, of cultures, and of generations. SVVV's top priority must be to become a university that is not just responsive to this convergence but is actively shaping it.

First, Research and Innovation must move to the centre of everything we do. We are already on this path — our faculty at the Shri Vaishnav Institute of Textile Technology recently received a DST research grant under the Science and Heritage Research Initiative. We must scale such achievements institution-wide and build SVVV into a recognised research powerhouse.

Second, Internationalisation. Our partnership with St. Cloud State University is a beginning. Over the next decade, I want SVVV to be part of a global academic network — with faculty exchanges, joint degrees, and international student programmes that enrich our campus culture.

Third, the full integration of Emerging Technologies — AI, Quantum Computing, Data Science, Green Technology — not just as elective modules but as a thread running through every program. The 21st century demands that every graduate, regardless of discipline, be digitally fluent.

Fourth, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Ecosystems. We must ensure that SVVV graduates are not just job seekers but job creators. Building a robust incubation and startup support infrastructure is central to our decade-long vision.

And finally, the integration of Indian Knowledge Systems across disciplines — fulfilling the promise of NEP 2020 by creating graduates who are simultaneously globally competitive and rooted in India's civilisational wisdom. This is SVVV's unique contribution to Viksit Bharat 2047.

Q9. What would you like people to know about SVVV that they may not know?

Many people know SVVV as a quality private university in Indore. What they may not fully appreciate is the extraordinary depth of legacy and the breadth of innovation that coexist here.

The Shri Vaishnav Group's educational journey began in 1884 — 142 years ago. We carry a generational commitment to education as service, not commerce. That legacy of trust and purpose is built into the DNA of this institution.

What also surprises many is the sheer diversity of our Centers of Excellence. SVVV houses specialised facilities in Plasma Research — a domain typically associated only with top government research institutions — and Forensic Science, alongside our industry-certified labs in IBM-partnered domains of AI, Quantum Computing, and Data Science. These are not cosmetic additions; they are genuine centres of cutting-edge work.

SVVV also has a rich culture of national and international academic events. Our annual hackathons, design competitions like RACHNAAND, the CSI National Student Convention KAUSHAL, international conferences like VAKSANA, and our national conclave SAJAG make this campus intellectually alive 365 days a year.

Q10. What do you see as the greatest strengths of SVVV?

I would highlight five core strengths that truly set SVVV apart in the higher education landscape.

First, our Legacy and Values Foundation. 140+ years of the Shri Vaishnav Group's trust-based educational mission gives SVVV a moral authority and institutional stability that no newly established university can replicate overnight.

Second, our Industry Integration Ecosystem. From TCS Priority Institution status to IBM, Apple, and Microsoft partnerships, our curriculum and placement infrastructure is deeply wired into the industry. The proof is in our placement record — top packages up to ₹47 LPA and consistent 80%+ placement rates.

Third, our multidisciplinary breadth on a single 51-acre campus. Engineering, Management, Design, Law, Architecture, Science, Commerce, Pharmacy, Mass Communication, Agriculture — all under one roof. This creates extraordinary opportunities for cross-disciplinary learning that will define the careers of tomorrow.

And fourth, our People. Our faculty bring deep research expertise and industry experience. Our students bring energy, ambition, and intellectual curiosity. The combination of these two forces — in a values-driven environment — is what makes SVVV genuinely special.

Q11. What are some of the biggest challenges you see, both for higher education in general and for SVVV specifically?

Honesty about challenges is the beginning of wisdom. In higher education broadly, I see three significant challenges.

The Relevance Gap: The pace of technological change — especially with AI — is outrunning our curriculum development cycles. Universities that do not build institutional agility into their DNA will produce graduates who are perpetually playing catch-up. At SVVV, we address this through our continuous industry co-design process and our IBM and Apple partnerships.

Equity of Access: Despite impressive expansion, India's higher education system still has deep inequities. Quality institutions are not distributed evenly across geographies and economic strata. This is both a national challenge and a personal motivation — I want SVVV's scholarship programs and accessible fee structures to serve as a model for how a private university can balance quality with social purpose.

Mental Health and Holistic Student Wellbeing: This is a challenge the sector has been too slow to address. Competitive pressure, career anxiety, and the always-online culture are taking a toll on students. At SVVV, we are investing in student counselling, mentoring, and campus life infrastructure that nurtures the whole person — not just the academic performer.

Specifically for SVVV, our challenge and opportunity are two sides of the same coin: to leverage our strong local and regional reputation into national and global recognition. We have the quality; the task is to amplify our visibility so that students across India and beyond consider SVVV as their institution of choice.

Q12. What are some plans that you're currently (or will be) designing for SVVV's international affairs and/or students?

Internationalisation is one of the most exciting frontiers we are actively working on. Our existing partnership with St. Cloud State University, USA, has already created a platform for academic collaboration, and we are building on that foundation.

Our near-term plans include expanding our network of international MoUs to include universities in Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East — regions with strong demand for quality Indian higher education partnerships. We are looking at joint degree programs, faculty exchange arrangements, and research collaborations that will benefit both institutions.

We are also working on establishing a dedicated International Students Cell at SVVV to provide comprehensive support — visa assistance, language support, accommodation, and cultural orientation — for students joining us from abroad. Indore's reputation as a clean, safe, and cosmopolitan city makes it an attractive destination for international students.

On the outbound side, we are expanding opportunities for SVVV students to participate in international internships, conferences, and exchange programs. We believe that global exposure is not a luxury — it is a necessity for graduates who will work in a borderless knowledge economy.

We also participated in hosting Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2025 and have built connections with global corporate entities that can serve as bridges for international exposure. Our vision is to make SVVV a genuinely cosmopolitan campus while retaining the cultural richness that is our deepest asset.

Q13. Any suggestions you would like to give to the current youth and aspiring students?

To the young people of India — and especially to those standing at the threshold of their higher education journey — I want to say: you are living in the most consequential and most promising period in India's modern history. This is your moment. Do not approach it with timidity.

First, choose curiosity over certainty. The greatest career paths of the next twenty years have not been fully defined yet. The students who thrive will be those who are comfortable with uncertainty, who ask questions rather than memorise answers, and who are willing to unlearn as readily as they learn.

Second, invest in your character as much as your competence. Skills can be updated. Knowledge can be acquired. But integrity, empathy, and the courage to do what is right — these are the qualities that will define your long-term success. A degree is a credential; character is a foundation.

Third, do not outsource your ambition. It is natural to look at rankings, peer pressure, and parental expectations. But ultimately, the most successful people I have met in my career are those who did work that genuinely excited them — not just work that impressed others. Find what lights you up, and pursue it with everything you have.

And finally, embrace India. We are at a civilisational inflection point. Viksit Bharat 2047 is not just a government slogan — it is a collective project that needs your energy, your ideas, and your commitment. The India that emerges in the next 25 years will be largely shaped by the choices that today's students make in their classrooms, laboratories, and communities. Make those choices with courage, with purpose, and with pride.

SVVV is ready to walk that journey with you

I am also a firm believer in leading by example — in showing up, in being present, in demonstrating the same commitment to learning that I expect from our students. Knowledge does not have a hierarchy. The day I stop learning is the day I stop leading effectively.