Milind Pande

Dr. Milind Pande is the Pro Vice-Chancellor at MIT World Peace University (MIT-WPU) in Pune, India. He has over thirty years of experience in academia and has contributed significantly in areas such as wireless technology, technology transfers, mobile education, and ICT innovations. Dr. Milind has been actively involved in global initiatives, including faculty and student exchange programs and international collaborations. He played a key role in the development of Robocon, the international robotics event, which began in India in 2005.

Dr. Milind holds two Doctorates (PhDs): one in International Trade and another in Wireless Technology. He also holds a triple Master's degree in Electronics (ME), Marketing (MBA), and Personnel Management (MPM). Additionally, Dr. Milind is a rare recipient of a Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship from the Ministry of HRD, Government of India. This fellowship focused on Telecom Technology Transfer, especially in rural education under the "Providing Urban Opportunities in Rural Areas" (PURA) project by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

Dr. Milind has co-authored the textbook titled Next Generation Mobile Communications – Mobile, Infra Technology, Management, and Data, published by McGraw-Hill Education. He has over 70 research publications and 10 internationally and nationally granted patents. In 2021, Dr. Milind received the prestigious VASVIK Industrial Research Scientist Award in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

Some of the notable projects Dr. Milind has worked on include the Hybrid Hexagonal Energy Efficient (H2E2) Wireless Sensor Network for Precision Agriculture, Mobile-Based Attendance System, M-Agri System, Mobile Health, and the Highway Traffic Management System. These projects focus on using technology to improve sectors such as agriculture, health, education, and infrastructure.

Dr. Milind has travelled extensively for international collaborations. He has visited countries like the USA, UK, Singapore, Switzerland, and Egypt, where he participated in technology transfers, faculty exchanges, and university collaborations. Dr. Milind is a member of the Telecom Advisory Council (TAC) of the Ministry of IT & Telecommunications, Government of India, and also serves on the UGC Expert Committee.

Dr. Milind has received awards, including the Best "Business School Leadership Award," the Rotary International Peace Fellowship in 2018, and the “Cyber Crime Helpline Award” in 2016. He has initiated and led several innovation-focused programs, such as the Smart India Hackathon and the Research, Innovation, Design, and Entrepreneurship (RIDE) Conclave.

Dr. Milind’s education includes a PhD in Business Management (International Trade) from GSTI, Indore, and a PhD in Wireless Technology. He also holds an MBA from LRTCC and an ME from Nagpur University. Dr. Milind completed his Post-Doctoral Fellowship at ICSSR, Ministry of HRD, Government of India, where he focused on Telecom Technology Transfer for rural education.

Dr. Milind Pande was born in India and has spent over thirty years in academia, making significant contributions to education, technology, and innovation. Currently serving as the Pro Vice-Chancellor at MIT World Peace University (MIT-WPU) in Pune, India, Dr. Milind has built a distinguished career as an educator, researcher, and innovator.

Dr. Milind’s academic journey began with a Bachelor of Engineering (BE) in Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering from B.T.E Mumbai in 1991. He completed his Master's degrees in Personnel Management (MPM) in 1994, Marketing (MBA) in 1996, and Electronics (ME) in 1999, the latter from Nagpur University. His pursuit of higher education did not stop there. He went on to complete two PhDs: one in International Trade and the other in Wireless Technology. These accomplishments laid the foundation for his deep involvement in research and innovation.

In 2005, Dr. Milind played a pivotal role in the development of Robocon in India. He has continued to be actively involved with the event, which is an international robotics competition. His focus on technology transfer, mobile education, and ICT innovations has led him to contribute to numerous projects that leverage technology to improve sectors such as agriculture, health, and education. One of the key projects he worked on is the Hybrid Hexagonal Energy Efficient (H2E2) Wireless Sensor Network for Precision Agriculture, which aims to reduce costs and increase energy efficiency in agriculture.

Throughout his career, Dr. Milind has held several important roles. Before becoming the Pro Vice-Chancellor at MIT-WPU, he was the Project Director for the MIT School of Telecom Management (MITSOT) from 2008 to 2019. Under his leadership, MITSOT became one of the top 50 B-schools in India, as ranked by NIRF, Government of India. He also played a significant role in establishing the MIT-TBI (Technology Business Incubator) at MIT-WPU, promoting innovation and entrepreneurship. Dr. Milind’s involvement in these initiatives reflects his commitment to enhancing education and fostering technological advancements.

Dr. Milind's expertise extends to various fields, including technology transfer, mobile education (M-Education), mobile agriculture (M-Agriculture), mobile health (M-Health), and smart sensing networks. His work in these areas has earned him recognition both in India and internationally. In 2021, he received the VASVIK Industrial Research Scientist Award in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) category. He has also co-authored a textbook titled Next Generation Mobile Communications – Mobile, Infra Technology, Management, and Data, which was published by McGraw Hill Education. His research has been published in over 70 papers, and he holds 10 internationally and nationally granted patents.

In addition to his contributions to academia and technology, Dr. Milind has been involved in various leadership and advisory roles. He is a member of the Telecom Advisory Council (TAC) under the Ministry of IT & Telecommunications, Government of India, and serves on the UGC Expert Committee. His international collaborations include travel to the USA, UK, Singapore, Switzerland, and other countries, where he has participated in faculty and student exchange programs, as well as technology transfer and university collaborations.

Dr. Milind’s career is marked by his commitment to improving education and technology in India. He has initiated several programs, including the Smart India Hackathon and the Research, Innovation, Design, and Entrepreneurship (RIDE) Conclave. These initiatives promote innovation among students and encourage the development of solutions to real-world problems. He was also the Brand Ambassador for the Digital India Campaign, an initiative launched by the Government of India to transform the country into a digitally empowered society.

Over the years, Dr. Milind has been honoured with numerous awards, including the Best Business School Leadership Award from the Dewang Mehta Business School Awards in 2011, the Rotary International Peace Fellowship in 2018, and the Cyber Crime Helpline Award in 2016. His achievements in academia, research, and technology have made a significant impact on Indian higher education and innovation.

Currently, Dr. Milind continues to serve as the Pro Vice-Chancellor at MIT-WPU, where he remains at the forefront of advancing education and technology. He also continues to guide Ph.D. students in the fields of business management and engineering, contributing to the academic development of future leaders. His ongoing efforts to promote the use of technology for social and educational development in rural India align with his long-term vision of creating a more equitable society through education and innovation.

Dr. Milind Pande envisions a future where technology helps improve education, agriculture, health, and infrastructure, particularly in rural areas. He believes that combining innovative technology with Indian talent can change India, providing more opportunities for everyone. Through his work, Dr. Milind wants to reduce the gap between rural and urban areas by making technology available to students and communities. He aims to create an environment where innovation, entrepreneurship, and research grow, ensuring that technology benefits society and helps India progress on the global stage.

Dr. Milind Pande has received numerous awards for his work in education, research, and technology. In 2021, he was honoured with the VASVIK Industry Research Scientist Award in the field of Information & Communication Technology. This award recognised his significant contributions to the ICT sector.

He was also awarded the Accredited Management Teacher (AMT) certification by the All India Management Association (AIMA), New Delhi, in the area of ‘Management of Technology and Innovation’. This recognition highlighted his expertise and contributions to the field of management education.

In 2011, Dr. Milind received the Best Business School Leadership Award from the 19th Dewang Mehta Business School Awards, held in Mumbai. This award acknowledged his leadership role in the success of MIT School of Telecom Management (MITSOT). He was awarded for Recognising Excellence in Education by ASSOCHAM and Balbharti Academy, New Delhi, in 2012 for his contributions to the educational sector.

Dr. Milind also received the Cyber Crime Helpline Award in 2016 for his dedication and commitment to addressing cybercrime issues. He served as a Special Jury Member for the Accenture Innovation Challenge Award in Bangalore, India. he was presented with the Jewel in the Crown of MIT award by the then Minister for Home Affairs, Shri Shivraj Patil, in New Delhi, and the Ideal Teacher Award by the then Minister for Finance and Planning, Government of Maharashtra, in recognition of his excellence in teaching.