Nageshwar Rao, Professor has joined as the Vice Chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Open University, the Open University.

Prof Rao was Vice-Chancellor of Uttarakhand Open University (UOU) prior to this appointment.

He was acting VC of IGNOU earlier from 28th November 2014 to 28th April 2016 and was also Pro Vice-Chancellor, Indira Gandhi National Open University New Delhi from December 2013 to November 2014.

He is also the chairman of the National Task Force, the committee constituted to assess and accredit open universities under NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council).

He is the Honorary Vice-Chairman. Rashtriya Uchhatar Shiksha Ayog (RUSA), Madhya Pradesh since November 2014.

On his joining as VC of IGNOU, Prof Rao said that it is like a homecoming for him as he has been part of the university as acting VC and as Pro-VC earlier.

He further added that the open education presents a great opportunity for a country like India which has a very diverse and young human resource to harness the demographic dividend.

He also said that he would focus on the quality of distance education and the integration of technology with education support service.

He has held various key positions in past including the charge of Vice-Chancellor of Kumanyu University Nainital during Nov 1, 2016, to April 1, 2017, and as Vice-Chancellor of Uttar Pradesh Rajarshi Tandon Open University, Allahabad between August 2008 to August 2011.

From October 1990 to December 2013, he served as Professor in Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Business Management (Pt. JNIBM) Vikram University, Ujjain where he acted as the Director of the Institute for more than 13 years.

His prior assignments also include Dean, Faculty of Management Studies for five terms; Dean, Faculty of Information Technology for one term and Chairman, Board of Studies in Management for four terms at Vikram University Ujjain.

He was also Reader in Faculty of Management Studies at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi between February 1985 and October 1990 and Lecturer in Department of Commerce & Business Administration, University of Allahabad, Allahabad between July 1978 to February 1985. 

Prof Rao received his D.Phil from University of Allahabad and ICWA from Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of India, Kolkata.

He has written eight books; popular amongst these are ‘Administration on Public Enterprises in India’ and ‘Communication Skills’. 

39 students have been awarded PhD in management under his supervision.

To his credit, more than 170 Research Papers and articles were published.

He has been invited as a Resource person in around 25 EDPs (Executive Development Programmes) for Railways, NTPC, National Fertilizers etc.

He has attended more than 100 National and International Seminars in management and allied disciplines.

He has been a member of Governing Council, Association of Indian Universities during 2010 for a period of one year.

He was the Chairman- Sports Board, Chief Warden- Hostels, Dean Students Welfare, Patron-Students Union and In-charge Professor, Ambedkar Peeth at Vikram University Ujjain. He was also Hon. Secretary, Institute of Gandhian Thought and Peace Studies, University of Allahabad.

He was nominated by Govt. of Madhya Pradesh as Director in Board of Professional Examination Board, Bhopal for a period of four years.

He was also the President of Indian Accounting Association.

Saraswati Samman was conferred upon him by Department of Higher Education UP Govt. (India) on Sep 5, 2010.