Prof. C.R. Visweswara rao
Vice-Chancellor
A Ph.D. in English Literature from Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, Prof. C.R. Visweswara Rao, brings to bear on the office of Vice-Chancellor, Vikrama Simhapuri University, Nellore, to which he was appointed on 28th July 2008, rich and varied experience in teaching, research and governance of the University. Before his appointment as Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Visweswara Rao held important positions in Sri Krishnadevaraya University hierarchy like Vice-Chancellor-in-Charge for a brief period, Rector, Member of the Executive Council, Dean, UGC Affairs, Dean, Faculty of Languages, Member, Vice-Chancellor’s Advisory Council, Additional Convener, Admissions, and Convener, Internal Quality Assurance Cell. He was the Vice-Chairman of the Working Sub-Group of the State Level Quality Assurance Cell of Andhra Pradesh State Directorate of Higher Education. In due recognition of his outstanding contribution, Prof. Visweswara Rao was honoured by the Government of Andhra Pradesh in 2005 with the Award for University Teachers for Meritorious Service (popularly known as the Best Teacher Award). He received the Shiksha Rattan Puraskar and the Certificate of Excellence from the India International Friendship Society, New Delhi, in 2007.
Prof. Rao produced 12 Ph.D.s and 23 M.Phil.s under his supervision. In addition, he has authored / edited 12 books and 50 scholarly publications in learned journals which have been widely acclaimed. He organized two UGC-sponsored Refresher courses in English, one All India English Teachers Conference as Conference Coordinator, and one National Seminar on Quality Assurance in Higher Education.
As the Editor-In-Chief of Indian Journal of English Studies for four years and as the Editor of a special number of the Commonwealth Review, Prof. Visweswara Rao earned niche for himself in the field of English Studies in India. He is the Vice-President of the Indian Association for Commonwealth Studies and Life Member of several national level professional bodies, in addition to being a Member, Research Board of Advisors, American Bibliography International, USA.
Prof. Visweswara Rao served Sri Krishnadevaraya University in various capacities for about 29 years. He was responsible during this period for revising the curriculum in tune with contemporary trends, devising courses of current relevance, and initiating course material writing for the Distance Education. Prof. Rao had a stint for a year during 1993 – 1994 in Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University, Hyderabad, as Professor of English / Editor, where he was also Professor in-charge of the Library, then in process of undergoing digitization, and Editor, Opvarsity News.
As Dean (UGC Affairs) in 2004-2005, and as a member of the Plan preparations Committees during various Plan periods, Prof. Rao played a lead role in formulating perspective plans for the development of the University and in getting a number of schemes sanctioned the University. As a member of various other committees of the University Enquiry and implementation of plans of action, he is well-acquainted with the academic ambience of the University and its functioning.
As a Member of the Visiting, Inspection, and Expert Committees of the UGC and Member-Coordinator of the Peer Teams of National Assessment and Accreditation Council for over 34 institutions all across the country, Prof. Rao has fairly intimate knowledge and vision of the higher educational scene in the country.
Strategic planning, vision plan preparation, infrastructure development, promotion of collaboration with the Industry, contemporizing the course structure, instituting courses of study relevant to the concerns of society, advocating HR and skill empowerment initiatives, fostering scientific research culture with a thrust on relevance, furthering the quest for excellence by identifying development radars, propagation of quality initiatives and development of quality parameters, initiation of the use of technology for enriched quality of teaching, framing Laws, Statutes, and Regulations are some of the important areas on which Vikrama Simhapuri University has bestowed its attention under the leadership of Prof. C.R. Visweswara Rao.