Prof. T. Tirupati Rao

Member

Prof. T. Tirupati Rao is a distinguished academician, administrator, and higher education leader who currently serves as the Chancellor of Manipur University and ICFAI University Tripura. He earned his M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. in Political Science from Osmania University and brings over three decades of rich experience in teaching, research, academic governance, and institutional leadership.

His areas of specialization include Public Policy, Governance, Higher Education, and Rural Development. Over the course of his academic career, he has guided numerous M.Phil. and Ph.D. scholars, published extensively in reputed journals, and served as a technical resource person for premier national institutions such as Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), and several Academic Staff Colleges across the country.

As Vice-Chancellor of Osmania University, Prof. Rao led several transformative academic, administrative, and infrastructural reforms that significantly strengthened the institution’s national standing. He introduced the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) across all postgraduate programmes, aligning the university with global academic standards and enhancing student mobility and flexibility.

He also initiated a range of student empowerment programmes focusing on soft skills, ethical values, and communicative English to improve employability and holistic development. During his tenure, the university secured prestigious grants, including the UGC’s “University with Potential for Excellence” recognition, and established a state-of-the-art Central Facility for Research and Development to promote interdisciplinary and advanced research.

Notably, he successfully steered the university through periods of intense student unrest while ensuring uninterrupted academic functioning. He also established “SAHAYAM,” a pioneering psychological counselling and student support centre aimed at promoting student well-being and mental health.

Even after his superannuation, Prof. Rao continues to play a significant role in shaping higher education policy and institutional governance at both national and state levels. He has served as a Council Member of the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), chaired the Vice-Chancellor Selection Committee for University of Delhi, and led numerous National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) peer teams for institutional quality assessment and accreditation across India.

Recognizing his administrative acumen and policy expertise, the Government of Telangana has frequently entrusted him with key responsibilities, including chairing committees on private school fee regulation, evaluation of private university proposals, and welfare measures for contractual university employees.

Deeply grounded in the social sciences, Prof. Rao is widely respected for his collaborative, humane, and visionary approach to academic leadership, institutional development, and societal transformation.