Vice-Chancellor (FAC)

Dr. M. Bhaskaran, Pro- Chancellor has taken charge as Vice-Chancellor with Full Additional Charge (FAC) of VISTAS since 15th June 2026.

Prof. Dr. M. Muthusamy Bhaskaran is an eminent scientist, distinguished academic administrator, institution builder, and higher education policy expert with nearly four decades of exemplary service in higher education, agricultural research, institutional leadership, and public policy. His career is distinguished by visionary leadership, academic excellence, administrative innovation, and sustained contributions to national development and international academic cooperation.

He has served in several prestigious leadership positions, including Founder Director of the National Seed Research and Training Centre (NSRTC), Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India; Vice-Chancellor of Tamil Nadu Open University; Pro Vice-Chancellor of VELS Institute of Science, Technology & Advanced Studies; and is presently serving as Vice-Chancellor (FAC), VISTAS.

Throughout his career, he has successfully led transformational initiatives in university governance, academic reforms, research and innovation, quality assurance, digital transformation, multidisciplinary education, internationalization, and industry–academia collaboration. His leadership has significantly strengthened institutional governance, research ecosystems, academic quality, and sustainable institutional growth while aligning higher education with national priorities and global standards.

With more than 21 years of distinguished administrative experience, Prof. Dr. Bhaskaran has held several prestigious academic leadership positions:

• Vice-Chancellor, Tamil Nadu Open University (2016–2019)
• Founder Director, National Seed Research and Training Centre (NSRTC), Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, Varanasi (2005–2011)
• Director and   Special   Officer,   Seed Centre, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University
• Professor and   Head, Department of Seed  Science  and Technology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University
• Pro Vice-Chancellor, VISTAS (2022–2025)
• Vice-Chancellor (FAC), VISTAS (2025–Present)

As the Founder Director of NSRTC, he established and operationalized India’s premier national institution dedicated to seed research, seed quality regulation, training, and regulatory capacity building. His administrative performance earned an “Outstanding” rating in the Government of India’s Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs) for six consecutive years.

Prof. Dr. Bhaskaran has made significant contributions to national policy formulation, international cooperation, and institutional development.

His major contributions include:

• Strengthening India’s seed regulatory framework through policy development and institutional capacity building.
• Contributing to the formulation of national seed policies, legislation, guidelines, schemes, and regulatory frameworks.
• Successfully implementing the prestigious OECD Seed Schemes in India, facilitating international seed trade and global market access.
• Coordinating and implementing SAARC technical cooperation and capacity-building projects sponsored by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.
• Developing seed regulatory infrastructure across several Indian States and SAARC member countries through the successful and timely implementation of prestigious Government of India projects.
• Playing an instrumental role in securing recognition from the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA), Switzerland, for the National Seed Research and Training Centre, thereby enhancing India’s international standing in seed testing and certification.
• Serving as a Technical Committee Member associated with ISTA programmes and other international seed quality initiatives.
• Contributing to the establishment of the Tamil Nadu State Seed Development Agency.

He also served as the Nodal Officer for ICAR All India Coordinated Research Projects and successfully mobilized externally funded national and international research projects exceeding ₹27.00 crore as Principal Investigator.

An accomplished teacher, researcher, and mentor, Prof. Dr. Bhaskaran has made lasting contributions to agricultural education and scientific research.

His academic achievements include:

• Guided 14 postgraduate and doctoral scholars.
• Published more than 160 research papers in national and international peer-reviewed journals.
• Authored seven textbooks.
• Recipient of the Best Teacher Award and Best Textbook Writer Award from the Madras Agricultural Students’ Union, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.
• Recipient of 14 National and International Awards recognizing excellence in teaching, research, academic leadership, and ICT-enabled educational innovations.
• His innovative initiatives include the development of the Seed Net Portal, Digital Library Projects, and the Automatic Seed Vending Machine. These innovations reflect his commitment to technology-enabled education, digital governance, and agricultural advancement.

Prof. Dr. Bhaskaran has represented India as an official delegate in 16 countries—Brazil, Canada, New Zealand, France, Germany, the United States, Italy, South Africa, Japan, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan—in matters relating to “Higher education, academic leadership, international knowledge sharing, seed quality regulation, international trade, seed certification, regulatory harmonization, and bilateral policy cooperation”.

He has participated as an invited keynote speaker, expert delegate, and academic representative at numerous international conferences, higher education forums, policy dialogues, and knowledge-sharing programmes, contributing to global discussions on higher education, research and innovation, quality assurance, institutional governance, academic leadership, and sustainable development.

He has also successfully coordinated several international programmes, capacity-building initiatives, and technical cooperation projects sponsored by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, and other national agencies, strengthening academic and scientific collaboration among universities, research institutions, and government organizations across South Asia and beyond.

His notable international academic engagements include:

• Leadership for Academicians Programme (LEAP), Ministry of Education, Government of India.
• Knowledge Sharing Programme at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom (2020).
• VISTAS Academic Leaders’ Exposure Visit to Europe (2025), covering France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Italy, and the Vatican, to strengthen international academic partnerships and promote institutional collaboration.

Prof. Dr. Bhaskaran has served in numerous prestigious statutory, regulatory, advisory, and policy-making positions, including:

• Chairman, UGC Committee on NAAC Criteria – Leadership, Governance and Management.
• UPSC Board Advisor.
• TNPSC Member for Group-I Services.
• Hon’ble Governor–Chancellor’s Nominee and Convener, Vice-Chancellor Selection Committee, Anna University.
• Government Nominee, Vice-Chancellor, Selection Committee, Periyar University.
• Chairman, Research Advisory Committee, ICAR–Indian Institute of Seed Science.
• Chairman and Member of more than 20 National and International Professional and Scientific Bodies.
• NAAC Qualified Assessor and Chairperson for numerous accreditation visits.

Prof. Dr. Bhaskaran is widely recognized for his visionary leadership, academic integrity, administrative excellence, and unwavering commitment to quality in higher education.

Throughout his distinguished career, he has introduced far-reaching academic and administrative reforms, strengthened institutional governance, enhanced research productivity, promoted innovation and digital transformation, improved financial and resource management, and established robust quality assurance systems.

His enduring contributions to higher education, agricultural science, public policy, and international academic cooperation continue to influence institutional development at the State, National, and Global levels. Under his leadership, VISTAS continues to evolve as a globally engaged institution committed to excellence, innovation, inclusivity, sustainability, and societal transformation.

• Vice-Chancellor (FAC), VISTAS (2025 – Present).
• Pro Vice-Chancellor, VISTAS (2022–2025).
• Vice-Chancellor, Tamil Nadu Open University (2016–2019).
• Founder Director, National Seed Research and Training Centre, Government of India.
• Chairman, UGC Committee on NAAC Criteria – Leadership, Governance and Management.
• Hon’ble Governor–Chancellor’s Nominee and Convener, Vice-Chancellor Selection Committee, Anna University (2017).
• Government Nominee, Vice-Chancellor Selection Committee, Periyar University (2026).
• Government and Hon’ble Governor–Chancellor’s Nominee to Faculty Selection Committees of State Universities.
• Member, Policy-making Committees, Higher Education Department, Government of Tamil Nadu.
• UPSC Board Advisor (2007–2011; 2016–2025).
• TNPSC Member, Group-I Services (2016–2019; 2023–2025).
• Chairman, Research Advisory Committee, ICAR–Indian Institute of Seed Science (2021–2024).
• Chairman/Member of more than 20 National and International Professional and Scientific Bodies.
• NAAC Qualified Assessor and Chairperson for multiple accreditation
• Recipient of 14 National and International Awards and Honours.
• Successfully implemented SAARC technical cooperation projects sponsored by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.
• Instrumental in securing International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) recognition for NSRTC.
• Represented India in 16 countries in international scientific, regulatory, and policy forums.