Symbiosis - Principal Director

Dr. Vidya Yeravdekar is the Principal Director of Symbiosis Society, which encompasses the Symbiosis schools, College of Arts & Commerce and institutions under the Symbiosis International University. She is also the Pro Chancellor of Symbiosis International University. A dream of her father, Dr. S. B Mujumdar, Founder and President of Symbiosis of creating ‘a home away from home’ for international students, Symbiosis today, has transformed itself into a multi-disciplinary, multinational, multi-cultural International University having students not only from all states of India but international students from 85 different countries. The University has institutes under 8 faculties viz. Management, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences, Health & Biological Sciences, Computer Studies, Engineering, Media &Communication, Architecture and Design. Management, Media, Law and Computer Science Institutes have been consistently ranked amongst the top ten in the country.

Dr. Vidya holds a Post Graduate Degree in Medicine, a degree in Law and Ph.D. in ‘Internationalisation of Higher Education in India’. She has been instrumental in bringing ininnovative approaches to promote internationalisation. Her foresight and leadership have been instrumental in creating strategic collaborations with universities across the globe. Sharing her father’s desire for capacity building by imparting education for international students, she strives to create a “home away from home” by creating a conducive environment for international students.

Dr. Vidya has been able to influence policy regulations for promoting and bringing in innovative approaches to higher education in India through her appointments on various governmental bodies. She has been a member of University Grants Commission (UGC) for two terms, Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) and Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). She has also been served as a Member on many other organizations such as Independent Director on the Board of RITES Limited under Ministry of Railways, Government of India, Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs, Yeshwantaro Chavan Maharashtra Open University, State Knowledge Advisory Board of Higher Education, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Sub-Group on Higher & Technical Education and Skill Development of Chief Minister’s Advisory Council, Government of Rajasthan.

She is a Chairperson of the FICCI Committee on Higher Education. Dr. Vidya has been appointed as Member of India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF) Trust. IBEF is a Trust set up by Ministry of Commerce & Industries, Government of India, to promote the ‘Brand India’ label in overseas markets and facilitate dissemination of information on Indian products and services. She has elected as Member of the Central Governing Council of Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC) set up by Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India. It is an apex trade body which facilitates service exporters of India.

She is a member on the Board of several organisations like Rayat Shikshan Sanstha, Symbiosis University of Applied Sciences, Indore, Symbiosis Skills and Open University, Pune, Research Committee of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and Public Health Foundation of India.

She is a member of many corporate bodies such as Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), Confederation of India Industry (CII), Maratha Chambers of Commerce and Industries (MCCIA) and Not for profit organisations like HK Firodiya Foundation, India International Centre (IIC), Pune International Centre (PIC) & Pune Citizens Police Foundation (PCPF).

Dr. Vidya has presented papers at various National & International Conferences and has numerous research publications to her credit. She has authored books on ‘Internationalization of Higher Education in India’ based on her experiences and research in this field and ‘New Faces New Friends’ based on her experience with international students studying in Pune.

She has been ranked No.14 amongst India’s top 25 Powerful Women by Fame India Magazine.Dr.Vidya’s hard work has won her numerous awards and accolades and she is now focussed on making Symbiosis International University benchmarked amongst one of the best Universities in Asia.