Dr. Madhu Chitkara is the Pro Chancellor, Chitkara University, Himachal Pradesh. She is a seasoned academician and an edupreneur. Dr Chitkara co-founded Chitkara Educational Trust in 1998, with a vision to impart quality education to seekers of the region. Since then, the four organisations under the ambit of the Trust – two universities and two schools have grown to become the most sought for place for the students seeking quality education.
Dr Chitkara has PhD in Education and has had a diversified career with variegated experience in the field of education spanning four decades. Knowledgeable and focused, she has adeptly managed numerous academic ventures and leads by example. She is warm and sincere – always willing to walk the extra mile to deliver on her promises.
At Chitkara University, she has been instrumental in creating more than 60 relevant industry-linked programs in the fields of Hospitality, Engineering, Management, Architecture, Art & Design, Nursing, Healthcare, Teacher Training, Mass Communication and Pharmacy at graduate, postgraduate and doctorate level. Her contribution also extends to building Incubation Centres for the students having an entrepreneurial mind, with more than 100 incubate companies.
Realising the worth of research and the need to nurture the creative mindset, she established CURIN (Chitkara University Research & Innovation Network) a network of people who explore, innovate and think differently. Driven by her vision, the University has built a strong network with over 200 Universities and Institutions, all across the globe including with those in USA, UK, France, Germany, China, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Australia. It is her constant endeavour to create strong Industry linkages to bring best of employment opportunities for the young graduates in the companies of repute such as Infosys, Amazon, Mahindra, Fortis, Safexpress, SAP, Deloitte, Morgan Stanley, Ernst & Young.
With a vision to bring global education at the campus, she designed Global Week, which is a footprint of Global Engagement at Chitkara University and one of the best ways of internationalising the student learning experience. This event serves as a catalyst for infusing cross-cultural competence, industry linkages, knowledge transfer as well as a phenomenal networking opportunity.
Dr Madhu Chitkara’s concern and love for a clean & green environment and her team’s unique initiatives, helped Chitkara University attain a position among top 3 cleanest universities of India in the Swachhta Ranking 2017 by the Govt. of India, MHRD.
Her fluent international connect marked her presence across the globe. She was invited to House of Lords with Anglia Ruskin University, London, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland and VC’s Meet in IYF World Camp, South Korea. She has lead various EU projects such as (a) Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) – Language Research and Training Centre “Language Talkies – the native way”; (b) OCULUS – a consortium of educators from optometry schools in Europe (Norway, UK, Spain and the Netherlands) with the aim to reform optometric education in Israel and India towards European standards; (c) Risk Management and Prevention of Antibiotics Resistance (ABR) – to create awareness and dissemination on increasing incidence of ABR and (d) Edureforms
Because of her unique way to ‘lead by example’ and ‘lead from front’, Dr. Madhu Chitkara continues to inspire many young women around the world and her story has been featured in the third edition of the book “Rising to the Top” published by IFEES.
Furthermore, her remarkable contribution in the field of education has been recognised on both the international and national stages. Some of the very important awards and accolades that have been conferred upon her include –
