Najma Akhtar
Najma Akhtar | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Akhtar in 2022 | |
| 15th Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia | |
| In office 12 April 2019 – 12 November 2023 | |
| Chancellor | Najma Heptulla Mufaddal Saifuddin |
| Preceded by | Prof. Talat Ahmad |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 November 1953 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Alma mater | Aligarh Muslim University Kurukshetra University |
| Awards | Padma Shri |
Najma Akhtar (born 1953) is an Indian academic and academic administrator. She served as the Vice Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia from 12 April 2019 until 12 November 2023.[1] She is also the first woman to hold the post in JMI.[2] In 2022, she was awarded with Padma Shri by the Government of India.[3]
Education
[edit]Akhtar was born in 1953.[4] She studied at Aligarh Muslim University, where she was a gold medalist and earned a National Science Talent Scholarship.[5] She has a PhD in Education from Kurukshetra University.[2][4][6] She received a Commonwealth Fellowship to study University administration at the University of Warwick in the UK[6] and also trained at the International Institute of Educational Planning at Paris (France).
Career
[edit]Akhtar worked for fifteen years at the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration, leading courses for senior officials from 130 countries.[5] She established the first state-level management institute at Allahabad and was the Controller of Examination and Director of Academic Programs at Aligarh Muslim University.[5] She has been a consultant to UNESCO, UNICEF and DANIDA.[5][7]
In April 2019, the Ministry of Human Resource Development received approval from the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, to appoint Akhtar as vice chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia for a five year term or till attaining the age of 70 whichever is earlier and served their till 12 November 2023.[2][7] Akhtar has been an advocate for gender equity[5] and is known for leading teams of diverse cultural backgrounds.[4][8] She said her goal is to establish a medical college at Jamia during her tenure.[9] Of her appointment as the first female vice chancellor in the university's 99 year history, she said, "My aim was not to break the glass ceiling but I was definitely against the glass ceiling. Why is it even there, if you hold the same educational qualifications and experience?”[9]
In 2022, Akhtar was awarded with Padma Shri by the Government of India.[3] On 19 January 2023, she was conferred with the honorary rank of Colonel and appointed “Colonel Commandant” of Jamia Millia Islamia.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ "Jamia Millia: Eqbal Hussain named Acting V-C as Najma Akhtar retires". www.punjabnewsexpress.com. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
- ^ a b c Amandeep Shukla (12 April 2019). "Professor Najma Akhtar appointed Jamia Millia's first woman vice-chancellor". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
- ^ a b "Jamia's First Female VC Najma Akhtar Selected for Padma Shri". News18. 2022-01-26. Retrieved 2022-03-21.
- ^ a b c "Who is Najma Akhtar, Jamia's first woman V-C?". Okhla Times. 11 April 2019. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
- ^ a b c d e "Jamia gets its first woman vice-chancellor". The New Indian Express. 11 April 2019. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
- ^ a b "Academician Najma Akhtar Appointed First Woman Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia". News18.com. 11 April 2019. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
- ^ a b Kunju, Shihabudeen (11 April 2019). "Jamia Gets Its First Woman Vice-Chancellor". NDTV. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
- ^ "Prof. Najma Akhtar appointed as first lady VC of Jamia Millia Islamia". The Indian Awaaz. 12 April 2019. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
- ^ a b "amia Millia's first woman VC Najma Akhtar didn't aim to break glass ceiling but was against its very existence". Hindustan Timesdate=13 April 2019. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
- ^ "JMI Vice Chancellor Prof. Najma Akhtar conferred Honorary Colonel rank in NCC" (PDF). jmi.ac.in. Retrieved 13 February 2023.