Cybersecurity Expert Prof. Sandeep Shukla Assumes Charge as Director, IIIT-Hyderabad
At a formal event on August 20, 2025, Prof. PJ Narayanan stepped down after a 12-year tenure, handing over leadership to Prof. Sandeep Shukla, formerly the Rajiv and Ritu Batra Endowed Chair for Cyber Security at IIT Kanpur.
Hyderabad, August 28: In a rare display of transparency and inclusivity in higher education governance, the International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad (IIITH) has concluded the appointment of its new Director through a process that actively involved faculty, students, staff, alumni, and the Governing Council.
At a formal event on August 20, 2025, Prof. PJ Narayanan stepped down after a 12-year tenure, handing over leadership to Prof. Sandeep Shukla, formerly the Rajiv and Ritu Batra Endowed Chair for Cyber Security at IIT Kanpur. The transition was the culmination of an exhaustive and participatory selection exercise. “I am very pleased about the process, with the opportunity given to the entire institute to interact with and give feedback on each candidate,” Prof. Narayanan said, recalling a practice first introduced in 2012.
Unlike conventional searches confined to statutory panels, IIITH’s process began with consultations across its community. Faculty, staff, students, and global alumni were asked to articulate the qualities they expected in the next leader. Based on this input, a Screening Committee finalized criteria and invited nominations from academia and industry. Candidates underwent multiple rounds of interactions, including formal presentations, informal gatherings, and small-group discussions, where their vision, academic credentials, administrative skills, and ability to inspire the campus community were evaluated.
Crucially, students and non-teaching staff were also engaged in candidate interactions, with feedback collected independently to ensure candor. “We have evaluated multi-dimensional qualities of each candidate via a diverse set of means,” said Prof. Rajeev Sangal, former Director and member of the Screening Committee. “I hope the process we follow at IIITH may inspire others in the country too, because then they will be able to make a more informed decision”.
The final shortlist was submitted to a statutory Search-cum-Selection Committee, which recommended three names to the Governing Council’s Chairman for the final appointment.
As Prof. Shukla assumes charge, the new Director is expected to steer IIITH towards greater impact in translational research, strengthen faculty consensus, enhance the student environment, and uphold transparency in administration.
