Prof. Vasudha Kamat - SNDT Women's University

Prof. Vasudha Kamat
Vice Chancellor, SNDT Women’s University
Prof. Vasudha Kamat assumed charge as Vice Chancellor, SNDT Women’s University on 14th
May 2011.
Prof. Vasudha Kamat is well known for her significant contribution to the field of Educational
Technology/Information and Communication Technology for Education. She has invested four
decades of life in the field of education (1971-2011) and has worked in school education, higher
education, teacher education, women’s education, Open and Distance Education, Life Long
Education extensively. She served the SNDT Women’s University for 24 years (1983-2007) and
NCERT for 3 years and 8 months (Sept 2007 – May 2011).
She joined SNDTU as a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in PVDT College of Education (1983). She
became Head of the Department of Educational Technology (DET) in Dec. 1986. As a Head of
the DET she introduced many innovations. SNDTU was the first University to offer Online Course
in Instructional Design for e-learning. New courses like PG Diploma in Educational Technology,
Master in Educational Technology-Computer Applications, Ph.D. in Educational Technology
(under Faculty of Education) were introduced under her academic leadership. DET developed
linkages with many National International organizations. The DET created its mark in all aspects
of University education: Teaching/Training, Research, Development as well as Extension.
(www.detsndt.ac.in)
Prior to joining SNDTU as a Vice Chancellor she was Joint Director of Central Institute of
Educational Technology (CIET), National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT),
New Delhi.
During her tenure (2007-2011) as Joint Director, Central Institute of Educational Technology
(ciet.nic.in) which is an apex institute in the field of Educational Technology in the country and a
constituent Institute of National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT:
ncert.nc.in) she took the CIET to new heights. As a Convenor of National ICT Policy for School
Education, she prepared the policy draft with the inputs from all the members of the Committee
under the Chairmanship of Mr. SC Khuntia, then Joint Secretary, School Education, MHRD. Final
draft of ICT Policy is submitted to MHRD.
With RTE (Right To Education) Act and RMSA (Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan-
Universalization of Secondary Education) large number of students are expected to come to
school. There is a demand for large number of teachers to cater to the needs of these children.
ICT will probably be the answer to address some of these challenges. Use of ICT (ICT
integration) in school education, teacher education becomes a priority today. Prof. Kamat
contributed richly to the field of teacher education in ICT integration. Before joining SNDTU she

was working on the plan for Teacher Professional Development in the use ICT in schools for 1
million teachers.
She was member of Programme Monitoring and Evaluation Group (PM&EG) of MHRD which
evaluates proposals from various states of India for ICT inputs. She assisted MHRD in preparing
new Guidelines for ICT@school scheme (a Rs. 6300 Crores scheme). She was Chairperson and
member of several ICT related Committees constituted by MHRD (e-Content, ICT Curriculum for
teachers etc.). Hon’ble Minister, HRD, GOI sanctioned a full-fledged 24*7 School Educational TV
Channel on Gyan Darshan with CIET, NCERT as a Nodal Agency. CIET started integrating many
technologies in school education and teacher education (mobile, Satellite, Television, Internet
Radio, TV on Demand, Audio books etc).
Her service is rewarded by several prestigious awards.
Recently she participated in the 5 th World Forum of Women Vice Chancellors of the Universities
in Xiamen, China (Nov 2011). She was invited by the Commonwealth of Learning, Vancouver,
Canada to present her views on Teacher Preparation in an Intentional Partner Country Meeting
(July 2010) UNESCO to participate as a Country Representative in the World Teachers’ Day
celebrations on 5 th Oct 2009 at Paris, France. She is a recipient of the Best Teacher Award
by Maharashtra State Government (2005-06). She is also a recipient of the US Government
Fulbright Senior Research Fellowship (2005-06) and conducted research on “Online
Learning” in the Florida State University, USA. She is recipient of Rotary International
Fellowship (2004-05) and taught courses to M.Ed. Students in University Technology, MARA
(UiTM), Malaysia. She was invited by the Regina University, Canada and worked in the Centre
for Advanced Technologies, developed Instructional Designs for several Online Courses (2003).
She received M.Ed. degree from Mumbai University in 1977 with the First Rank. Her Ph. D.
also from Mumbai University, was in the area of Self-Perception (1981) under the guidance of
Prof. Pratibha Deo, the then Head of the Department of Education, Mumbai University and a
Fulbright Scholar. As a continuation of this study, she conducted research on Remand Home
students for improving their Self Concept through improvement in Scholastic Achievement. This
study won her an Award instituted by the NCERT in 1987.
Her first degree is in Chemistry (B.Sc.) from Pune University (1971) and last degree in
Sociology (M.A.) from SNDT Women’s University (1986). She is alumnus of 3 prestigious
Universities in Maharashtra.
She worked majorly in the area of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for
education. She has designed and offered online courses, has conducted training programmes in
Instructional Design for e-learning, has guided research studies in this area and has worked as
Project Director of many e-content development projects.

She has conducted several research studies for various National/International organizations
such as Indian Space Research Organization, UNDP, World-Bank, UNICEF, MHRD, etc. on
various themes. As a Project Director, she conducted an evaluation study for UNICEF
(collaborated by NUPEA, New Delhi) of District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) in 4
States.
Nine students have acquired Ph.D. under her guidance and 4 more are presently working under
her for their Ph.D. She has guided more than 100 PG students (M.Ed., M.Phil., METCA) in their
research.
She closely works with Open Universities in India and has developed Self Learning Material for
D.Ed., B.Ed., M.Ed. programmes for them. Also has worked as member of Advisory Council of
Open Universities, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (DEP-SSA), and National Institute of Open Schooling,
New Delhi.
She has visited several countries like Bangladesh, Singapore, Thailand, China, Indonesia,
Malaysia, Hong Kong, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Mauritius, Canada, USA etc. to conduct
training programmes/workshops, participate in international conferences, participate in
international meetings, on teaching and research assignments, to develop linkages with the
organisations etc. She has developed strong linkages with the Commonwealth of Learning,
Canada, University of Regina, Canada, Mauritius Institute of Education, Mauritius, Wawasan
Open University, Penang, Malaysia etc. She believes in collaboration and cooperation with which
Globalization and Internationalization of Higher education can be successfully addressed.
As a Regional Secretary of All India Association for Educational Technology she has organised
several Annual Conferences both at State, National as well as International level. She has many
books, book chapters and Research Papers at her credit.
She has conducted training programmes for teachers in various techniques of teaching. She has
developed "Zero Lecture Project" where the teachers are trained to “teach” in the class using
constructivist approach, without lecturing.
As a social activist, she works for the Society for Rural Reconstruction and Education (Narayan
Ashram) working in Konkan area of Maharashtra for the last 15 years.
Personal Information
Born in Mumbai, brought up and educated in various places in Raigad (then Kolaba) district of
Maharashtra. Ancestral home is in Savantwadi Taluka of Sindhudurg District, Maharashtra.
Mountaineering, Visiting places, making friends, photography and reading are some of her
hobbies. Uses web 2.0 tools extensively. She is a member of many online professional
communities.