Dr. Apoorva Palkar is the Founding Vice Chancellor of Maharashtra State Skills University (MSSU). She comes with academic experience of more than 28 years in Higher Education and has been an institution builder. A graduate in mathematics, post-graduation in Business Management, Alumni of IIM-A she is the recipient of the prestigious Ravi J Mathai Fellow award and academic leadership award from Higher Education Forum (HEF).

She worked as Director Innovation, Incubation and Linkages at Savitribai Phule Pune University for four years prior to joining MSSU and has done pioneering work in the area of start-ups and entrepreneurship. Recently 10,000 women have started training in AI in Maharashtra with her efforts and she has authored, a book on ‘AI Unzipped’. Under her leadership the University was renamed as ‘Ratan Tata Maharashtra State Skills University’. In a short span of 2+ years the University has partnered with top French Design School for joint degree program, GIZ Germany to lead micro credentials in AI, St. Peterburg Russia for employable skills to name a few. University received funding from World Bank of Rs.250 Crores for its development.

A strong believer of networks she has contributed immensely in collaborating with various Universities, organisations and Governments. Innovator at heart she has worked on various projects leading to unconventional funding opportunities. She led the innovation centre of SPPU (Pune University) and lead to ranking of the University nationally at No 8 in Atal ranking of institutions on innovation achievements (ARIIA).

She has been on the boards of various international agencies worked closely with UNSECOSOC Council and UN Procurement Division. She is leading prestigious projects on ‘Cyber Security’ with ATS Mumbai & NIA Delhi respectively.

Education policy making has been an area of her interest and she has been a Part of State Higher Education Council- Maharashtra under RUSA, Member Skill Committee- Government of India, Convener Task- Force Globalisation of Higher Education, Member AICTE. She is currently Chairperson of AICTE’s board for vocational education.

A faculty of Marketing Management and Entrepreneurship she has been teaching, training students.

Application based research has been her interest and nine students have been awarded PhD under her.