LEAD-Academics is a 6-month flagship leadership development program aimed at building strong academic institutions for a Viksit Bharat, grounded in the belief that “one person can change the entire institution” if they are motivated, committed, and equipped with the right leadership skills. This program is offered under the ambit of the Centre for Leadership in Education and Academic Development (LEAD) program of BITS Pilani.
Through hybrid delivery, LEAD-Academics focuses on honing leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills through a sandwich format – 3 days on campus at BITS Pilani, followed by five and a half months of online sessions (every Saturday), and concluding with a 2 day of capstone presentations and valedictory function on campus at BITS Pilani covering covering 6 themes, 16 modules, 48 lectures and 72 hours.
The FLY Professional training focuses on developing the five key Competitiveness Mindset skills - Conscientiousness, Perseverance, Innovativeness, Taking Initiative, and Problem Solving through the L.I.F.E. framework (Learning, Introspection, Fellowship, and Engagement), with the programme designed to enhance individual and organizational competitiveness, strengthen leadership and communication, and build a foundation for ethical leadership and professionalism, covering 5 themes, 21 lectures, and 32 hours.
Vice-chairman,
All India Council for Technical Education
Professor, Electrical Engineering, NPTEL & Digital
Education Leader,
Indian Institute of Technology, Madras
Former Chairman,
All India Council for Technical Education, India
Member Secretary, National Board of Accreditation
Professor, Communication Area,
Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad
Vice Chancellor, Avinashilingam , University, Coimbatore
Senior Academic Advisor, Renowned Computer
Scientist,
Former Vice-Chancellor,
Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani
Former Director,IIT Bombay
Director, Information and Library Network Centre
Communications Consultant, Political Campaign Advisor
Founder of Perfect Relations
Director, NAAC
Director, Off-Campus Programmes & Industry Engagement,
Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani
Founder Director, AIIMS Bhubaneshwar
Founder Vice Chancellor
APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University, Kerala
Director, Indian Institute of Technology, Tirupati
Professor (Retd), IITB
Dean Strategy, IIT Bombay
Director, NCBS, Bangalore
Former Joint Secretary,
University Grants
Commission
Dean, Faculty of Engineering & Technology,Jamia Millia
Islamia, New Delhi
Former Director, NIT Trichy
Former VC, NIEPA
Former Dean (Academics), IIT Delhi
Former nominated Member, Rajya Sabha,
Former Member, Planning Commission
Dean (Strategy) IIT Bombay
Secretary General, Association of Indian Universities
Professor, Dept of Computer Science and Engineering,
Former Director, Indian Institute of Technology,
Kharagpur
Former Secretary, Ministry of Education
Professor, IIT Madras
Professor of Physics,
Dean, Academic Undergraduate Studies,
Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani
ERP Manager, BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus
Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO),
Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani
Former Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj,
Government of India
Former Chief Secretary, Government of Kerala.
Founding Director,
International Institute of Information Technology,
Bangalore
Dean (Faculty Affairs), IIT Bombay
Former Director, Indian Institute of Technology–Ropar
Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Chennai
Former OSD, Ministry of Education
Professor, IIT Delhi
IAS Officer (Retd.),
Senior Public Administration Expert
Former Chief Secretary, Government of Maharashtra
Director,
Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani,
Hyderabad Campus
Former Director, Indian Institute of Technology,
Gandhinagar
Former Vice-Chancellor, Banaras Hindu University,
Varanasi
Dean R&D, IIT Kharagpur
Former Director & Professor Emeritus,
Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi
Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering,
IIT Hyderabad
Honorary Professor at Woosong University, South Korea
Group Vice-Chancellor, BITS Pilani
Former Chairman, UGC
Dean, F/o Natural Sciences,
Jamia Millia
Islamia, New Delhi
LEAD-Academics has been a truly enriching and memorable journey for me. Every Saturday became something I looked forward to with genuine anticipation. The programme beautifully covered the many dimensions of leadership in an educational institution—from vision, governance and academic excellence to faculty development, research, innovation, regulatory frameworks and student engagement. The FLY Leadership programme by CMI, book reviews, thoughtful discussions, the Capstone project and, most importantly, working and learning with peers added immense value to the experience. The opening immersion at BITS Pilani, Hyderabad, was a wonderful beginning, and I am now looking forward to the closing and culmination at BITS Goa. I am deeply thankful for this opportunity, the learning, the friendships and the many reflections it has brought. I sincerely hope that all these experiences will not only make me a better academic leader, but also a better person.
For me, my LEAD Academics journey is all about Learn, Unlearn and Relearn. There was definitely a lot to learn. The programme exposed us to different dimensions of academic leadership, from strategic planning and curriculum to quality, research, innovation and institution building. But what I found even more interesting was the unlearning. Many sessions made me question the way I have been approaching certain situations over the years. Whether it was about how we lead, what we consider as quality, how we approach research, or even how we think about curriculum, there were many moments that made me pause and rethink. What made LEAD particularly meaningful for me was that this learning did not happen only through the formal sessions. The FLY sessions from CMI, case studies, activities, book discussions, and especially the interactions with colleagues from different universities brought in different perspectives and made the experience much more enriching. And that is where the relearning happened for me. It was not about replacing one idea with another. It was about going back to many things I already knew and had been doing for years, but looking at them again from a different perspective. Several times during the programme, I found myself thinking, I have faced this situation before, but probably I would approach it differently now. For me, that was the real relearning. So when I look back, my biggest takeaway from LEAD is not any one session or framework. It is this mindset of being willing to learn something new, unlearn what may no longer work, and relearn with a different perspective. Happy learning, unlearning and relearning. Let the journey continue much beyond LEAD.
The LEAD Academics Programme will leave a lasting impression not only on my professional career but also on my personal life. The programme has been thoughtfully and meticulously curated to address the diverse challenges that academic institutional leaders may face in managing and transforming their institutions. One of the most distinctive features of the programme is its discipline-neutral approach. It provides a holistic understanding of the various dimensions of an academic institution—from developing and articulating institutional vision and achieving academic excellence to promoting research, innovation and entrepreneurship; from understanding regulatory frameworks to effectively handling student dissent. The lectures were delivered by some of the finest resource persons in the country, bringing together rich expertise, practical insights and diverse perspectives. I enjoyed the book discussion sessions, which encouraged reflection and helped connect theoretical concepts with real-life challenges. I appreciate the thoughtful selection of books for the discussion sessions, with each book offering insights into different dimensions of leadership, management, institutional transformation and personal growth. In fact, most of these books were books that I was reading for the very first time. I am truly grateful to the programme for introducing and ushering me towards these excellent resources, which I am sure will remain valuable references in my personal and professional journey. Another invaluable aspect of the programme was the opportunity to learn from peers representing diverse institutions and academic backgrounds. The exchange of experiences and innovative practices broadened my understanding of institutional leadership and provided several ideas that can be adapted to my own institutional context. I can confidently say that the programme has broadened my perspective on both professional and personal issues. It has made my approach to challenges more structured, reflective and organized, while encouraging me to look at problems from multiple perspectives. I sincerely thank Prof. P. Sankar Ganesh and Prof. R. Subrahmanyam for their constant support, guidance and excellent anchoring throughout the programme. Their commitment and encouragement significantly enriched the entire learning experience. LEAD Academics has been much more than a leadership programme—it has been a transformative learning journey.
Participating in the BITS-LEAD Programme has been a truly
enriching and transformative experience for me. Beyond
learning about leadership theories and models, the
programme gave me an opportunity to pause, reflect, and
look inward at my own journey as an academic leader. It
reinforced my belief that leadership is not merely about
holding a position or exercising authority, but about
inspiring people, building trust, listening with empathy,
and leading with integrity and purpose. Getting elevating
experience from the seasoned administrators, senior
academicians, visionary changemakers and impactful leaders
was the best part of the programme. The book reviews and
discussions on emotional intelligence, ethical leadership,
change, persuasion, finding north groups and collaboration
were particularly meaningful. FLY programme was an added
advantage to learn concepts and models of problem solving
and learning how to apply in a specific situation. I leave
this programme with renewed confidence, greater
self-awareness, and a deeper commitment to becoming a more
compassionate, reflective, and effective leader. My
heartfelt gratitude and profound respect go to the entire
LEAD team, especially Prof. Shankaran Ganesh and Prof. R.
Subrahmanyam, IAS (retd.) for the heart and soul they
invested in the programme, their unwavering presence and
thoughtful guidance throughout every session, and for
giving me the privilege of being part of this truly
distinguished journey. Finally, my heartfelt thanks to
Prof. H.S. Oberoi, Director, NIFTEM, Kundli for permitting
me to be part of BITS-Lead programme and extending
institutional financial support as well.
Prof. Neeraj Dean
(Academic) NIFTEM, Kundli
Testimonial – BITS LEAD Academics Program The BITS LEAD Academics Program has been a truly enriching experience for me. It broadened my horizon and gave me a wider perspective on effective academic leadership, helping me appreciate that leadership goes beyond academics and research. Faculty development, student engagement, institutional governance, and strategic contribution to institutional growth are equally important in building a strong and progressive academic institution. What I also found meaningful was the program’s focus on self-development as a leader. It encouraged me to reflect on my leadership style and recognize the importance of listening, communicating, supporting, and inspiring a team. The interactions with experienced academicians and fellow participants made the learning practical and meaningful. Overall, the program has strengthened my leadership approach, enriched my perspective, and, most importantly, helped me discover the leader within me. For me, BITS LEAD Academics has been more than a learning program—it has been a journey of self-reflection and growth that has strengthened my confidence, broadened my perspective, and helped me discover the leader within me.
LEAD-Academics has been a truly transformative learning journey for me. The programme provided a unique opportunity to learn from eminent academic leaders and gain deeper perspectives on strategic leadership, institutional vision, academic excellence, research and innovation, faculty development, regulatory frameworks and student development. The combination of expert sessions, case studies, reflections, book discussions and the capstone project made the learning highly practical and relevant to real institutional challenges. Most importantly, the programme encouraged me to reflect on my own leadership style and strengthened my ability to think strategically, collaborate effectively and contribute to institutional excellence. I am grateful to BITS Pilani and the entire LEAD-Academics team for this enriching experience and would strongly recommend the programme to aspiring academic leaders.
A must-do program for anyone aspiring to be an academic leader. The catch phrase “Leadership is not about positions. It is about impact.”
Action-focused and rooted in Indian higher education realities. I now use fresh insights on research leadership, technology integration, and communication every day. Grateful to BITS Pilani for this powerful learning experience.
The LEAD Programme was a very enriching experience and offered useful strategic as well as practical insights into leadership in higher education. The discussion in the programme went beyond my regular day-to-day scope of work and helped widen my horizon. The peer interactions, guided by experienced academic leaders and practitioners, led to meaningful discussions on governance, innovation, and managing change within universities. Overall, the programme has strengthened my ability to approach the assigned leadership role with clarity and purpose
The BITS Pilani LEAD Academics Programme was a transformative experience, offering deep engagement with outstanding academic leaders and a rigorous capstone learning experience. It sharpened my leadership capabilities and enabled meaningful reflection on higher education’s evolving challenges
Being part of the inaugural LEAD-Academics Programme at BITS Pilani was a rewarding and intellectually enriching experience. The programme offered valuable perspectives
Action-focused and rooted in Indian higher education realities. I now use fresh insights on research leadership, technology integration, and communication every day. Grateful to BITS Pilani for this powerful learning experience.
I was privileged to be a participant among the first cohort of the Senior Academic Leadership Program. The program provided a valuable opportunity to learn from the rich experiences and insights of accomplished academic leaders. The debates and discussions throughout the program encouraged us to think differently and more holistically. The Capstone Project, in particular, helped me develop the ability to think from an institutional perspective rather than an individual one. The program’s structured training refined my leadership abilities and distinguished me as a leader.
The LEAD academics program allowed me (and probably many like me) to understand the underpinnings of behind the scenes for running an academic institution. The mentors were chosen for each session really meticulously and they believed in sharing experiences; and, importantly; not just the good ones, but where they got to learn new things as well. If you are one of them, who wants to make a little change in the system at the workplace, for a greater cause, for a greater good and to take HEI in India to a newer height; this program will enable you to understand the system, analyze your own potential and help you make new strides.
LEAD-Academics is a 6-month flagship leadership development program aimed at building strong academic institutions for a Viksit Bharat, grounded in the belief that “one person can change the entire institution” if they are motivated, committed, and equipped with the right leadership skills. This program is offered under the ambit of the Centre for Leadership in Education and Academic Development (LEAD) program of BITS Pilani.
lead.acad@bits-pilani.ac.in
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