– Distinguished UoH academic and administrator to lead Yogi Vemanna University for a three-year term
The University of Hyderabad community celebrates yet another proud moment as Prof. Bellamkonda Raja Shekhar, Senior Professor at the School of Management Studies (SMS), has been appointed as the Vice Chancellor of Yogi Vemanna University (YVU), Kadapa, for a period of three years.
This appointment is a fitting recognition of Prof. Shekhar’s visionary leadership, academic brilliance, and unwavering commitment to higher education. Over the past two and a half decades, he has played an instrumental role in shaping the academic and administrative excellence of the University of Hyderabad, inspiring both colleagues and students alike.
A Journey of Academic Excellence
Prof. Raja Shekhar joined the University of Hyderabad in 1999 and has since become a cornerstone of the School of Management Studies, guiding its growth into one of India’s premier centers for management education. His academic journey is a testament to intellectual curiosity and lifelong learning — holding a B.Tech. in Civil Engineering from Acharya Nagarjuna University (1990), and four Master’s degrees in Business Administration (Osmania University), Psychology (Sri Venkateswara University), Education (IGNOU), and Data Science and Engineering (BITS Pilani, 2025).
He also holds three doctoral degrees — in Management (Kakatiya University, 2002), Psychology (Sri Venkateswara University, 2014), and Education (Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University, 2023) — demonstrating his extraordinary breadth of scholarship and interdisciplinary expertise.
Leadership, Innovation, and Impact
A distinguished administrator, Prof. Shekhar has held several key positions at the University of Hyderabad, including Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, Dean of the School of Management Studies, Dean of Students’ Welfare, Chief Warden, Head of the Department of Education and Educational Technology, and Director of the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC).
As Dean of SMS, he was the driving force behind launching the MBA programme in Business Analytics, one of the first of its kind in the country — setting new benchmarks in management education and aligning academic learning with emerging industry needs.
His leadership extended beyond the university as well. He coordinated the Diploma in Business Management offered by the Centre for Distance Education and Virtual Learning at UoH for over 20 years, impacting thousands of learners nationwide.
He also played a significant role in formulating schemes and syllabi for the Telangana State Public Service Commission, reflecting his commitment to public service and institutional development.
National and International Engagements
Prof. Shekhar’s academic engagement has been both national and global. He successfully coordinated two national MOOC programmes (ARPIT) on Research Methodology for Social Sciences and Data Analysis for Social Science Teachers on the SWAYAM Portal of the Government of India.
He was part of the Leadership for Academicians Programme (LEAP) of the Ministry of Education (earlier MHRD) at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Later, he served as Associate Coordinator for LEAP at UoH.
Further, he attended a week-long advanced training programme titled Becoming a Top 100 University at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, reflecting his vision for institutional excellence in higher education.
Research and Mentorship
Prof. Shekhar’s research interests encompass Service Quality, Business Analytics, Organizational Psychology, and Higher Education. He has authored and co-edited several books on Consumer Protection, Supply Chain Management, Food Security, and Quality Management, and published over 70 research papers in reputed journals.
He has guided 22 doctoral scholars, with eight more currently under his supervision, exemplifying his deep commitment to nurturing future researchers and academics.
Awards and Recognition
In recognition of his outstanding contributions to academia, Prof. Shekhar was the first recipient of the Academicians Excellence Award established by the Hyderabad Management Association (HMA) in 2020.
Beyond academia, he has served society through his long-running career counselling column ‘Q&A’ in the Telugu daily Eenadu for over a decade, guiding thousands of students and young aspirants on academic and career choices.
A Visionary for the Future
Prof. Raja Shekhar’s appointment as Vice Chancellor of Yogi Vemanna University marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter — one that will surely be defined by innovation, inclusivity, and academic growth. His multifaceted expertise and visionary approach are expected to bring renewed dynamism to YVU’s academic and research ecosystem.
The University of Hyderabad family congratulates Prof. Bellamkonda Raja Shekhar on this remarkable achievement and wishes him continued success as he leads Yogi Vemanna University, Kadapa, toward a future of excellence and transformation.