Panaji: Rajendra S Gad assumed charge on Thursday as the 10th vice-chancellor of Goa University, succeeding Harilal B Menon, following a formal order issued by the chancellor and Goa governor P A G Raju.Gad said his priorities include strengthening interdisciplinary curricula and skill-based learning to prepare students for global research and industry. He will champion research addressing regional socio-economic challenges, agricultural automation, and preservation of native languages through technology.He also plans to expand incubator networks, industry-academia collaborations, and upgrade laboratory infrastructure to promote student entrepreneurship through the Goa University Research Park Unit (GURU).A native of Camurlim, Bardez, he previously served as senior professor of electronics at the School of Physical and Applied Sciences, and as dean of the Manohar Parrikar School of Law, Governance and Public Policy and dean of the School of Physical and Applied Sciences. His research spans signals and systems with applications in computer networks, non-invasive glucose monitoring, biometrics, robotics, and natural language processing involving Konkani and other Indian languages.He has led and co-investigated projects funded by MeitY, DST, and other agencies. He received Goa govt’s Best Teacher Award for 2019–20.
