Adviser & Professor, Daffodil International University, Dhaka; Strategic Adviser, Adamas University, Kolkata; Secretary, Global Media Education Council; Former Pro VC, Adamas University; Former Dean, Symbiosis and Amity Universities

Prof. Ujjwal Anu Chowdhury is a maverick who travels between communication academics and its practice, between profession and social engagement, between travelling and staying put. Currently the Strategic Adviser and a Professor with Daffodil international University of Dhaka, Brand Consultant with Kolkata based Adamas University, and the Secretary of Global Media Education Council, he was till 2021 the Pro Vice Chancellor of Adamas University, and had been earlier the Dean of Symbiosis and Amity universities, apart from Pearl Academy and Whistling Woods International.

He had been a wanderer, working as a media consultant in Nepal, consulting with Amsterdam Film School in Netherlands, working on films for WHO in several nations, and working with Acore Media in Dubai. He speaks and writes on various platforms, and works in civil society initiatives on media, entrepreneurship and democracy. He runs a school for the children of the marginalized communities of the Sundarban area of Bengal in memory of his late mother, Smt Anu Chowdhury.

Brief Life-sketch: Prof.Ujjwal K Chowdhury

Date of Birth: 3^rd of November, 1965.

Mission:

Nurturing creative talent, evolving new educational best practices in the higher education domain.

Current Engagements:

• Strategic Adviser & Professor, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh (with additional role in developing Daffodil operations in Dubai)
• Vice President, Global Media Education Council
• Mentor, NextGen Academy & CTPL

Till July 31, 2021, worked as the Pro Vice Chancellor (Branding, Social Media, PR, International Relations, Admissions) & Dean, School of Media, Communication & Fashion, Adamas University, Kolkata

Frequent writer on education, media, society and politics in Outlook group, Business World, Deccan Herald, Millennium Post, Kashmir Times, Newslaundry, The Policy Times, The Tribune, Assam Tribune, Sunday Guardian, The Wire, etc.

 Have been regularly appearing on Newstime, Zee Group, India Ahead TV and irregularly in Network 18 News, when in India.

Earlier Engagements: Education & Media/Communication Assignments & Consulting

Dean, School of Media, Pearl Academy, Delhi & Mumbai (a Global University Systems, London Group institute).

Head, Education Division, Ramoji Krian group, Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad, working as Director, Ramoji Krian Universe.

Awards and Recognition:

• Winner of Global Leadership in Communication Education in 2015, awarded by Sharjah and Kerala Chambers of Commerce in Dubai.
• Winner of Hall of Fame in Communication Education in 2011, awarded by Public Relations Council of India (PRCI).
• Winner of Golden Triangle Award of Global Forum for Public Relations (GFPR) in ‘12.

Earlier Engagements:

• Senior Academic Consultant, Amsterdam Film School, from August 1, 2015 (visiting six times a year). Assignment till July, 2016.Task to make all course outlines and detailed syllabi of courses other than films (new media courses) and take special talks.
• Dean, Faculty of Media, Design & Communication, Amity University, Mumbai from Feb 1, 2015. Engaged in developing Amity University Mumbai as a part of the leading team on ground here, including overall admissions leadership, along with systems, processes, infra-structure, academic programs, relationships with industry and voluntary organizations for media and design departments. I was here for the first year of operations with one admission cycle (782 students total, 68 in media).
• Dean, DGMC (Deviprasad Goenka Media College), Mumbai University (June 2014-January 2015): Engaged in building academic, branding and administrative SOPs, marketing communications strategy and plan of action, recruiting additional staff, and creating new high-end studio, shooting floor and preview theatre on campus. Two batches of BA, MA and one batch of PGDM were admitted during this period.
• Dean, Whistling Woods International School of Communication, Film City, Mumbai (2011-2013): launched the School of Communication (WWI Film School was there already) with more than expected number of students, with operational break-even in the first year itself. Also, created WWI-SMC brand through 10-city Seminar Series named Inspiration Meets, involving students, and also creating a strong online brand of the institute. Creating a powerful 22 member Advisory Board of senior media professionals. Placing one batch. WWW-SMC has recently got the best emerging media school of India award. The first PG batch of 79 students @Rs.3 lacs annual fees annual was admitted. The second PG batch with 112 students @Rs.3 lacs annual fees was admitted too.
• Executive Director, ISB&M School of Communication (2010-2011)

International School of Business and Media, Pune, Kolkata, and NOIDA campuses: Creating campuses in Kolkata and Noida for media within ISB&M (Only Pune was there earlier). Branding through Media Mindprints events across 12 cities. Strong editorial writing on the institute done. Creating the entire course outlined and detailed syllabus, and recruiting faculty for the same. Placing two batches in quick succession. ISBM Communication School got the best advertising course award in 2011. The portfolio moved from Rs.80 lacs to Rs.2.2 crores annual.

• Dean of the Symbiosis International University, and (1998-2001; 2006-2010) Director of Symbiosis Institute of Media & Communication, Pune and Bengaluru campuses: A unique branding done within six years of engagement in Symbiosis, with 20 cities events series named SIMC Footprints focused on all areas of media and communication learning. Industry footfall in Pune campus through annual events like Fest-o-Comm, National Radio Meet, National Cyber Media Conference, South Asian Youth Peace Meet. And ensuring double internship and final placements of several batches going up to 240 PG and 120 UG students in a single year. SIMC PG is currently the third ranked best media school of India and SIMC UG is the number one under-graduate media school of India. Also, launched the SIMC PG Bengaluru campus as well during 2009-10. The Symbiosis Media Education portfolio was raised from less than Rs.1 crore in 1998 to Rs.18 crores in 2010.

Earlier Engagements:

Media Adviser, The Nippon Foundation (Goodwill Ambassador, WHO), Delhi & Geneva: 2005: focusing more on creating messaging, media platforms, events and mainstream media PR for the WHO fight against eradication of Leprosy with Nippon Foundation President Yohei Sasakawa as the WHO Goodwill Ambassador in this Mission.

Media Adviser, Textiles Ministry, Government of India, Delhi: 2003-04: focusing on creating brand of Indian Textiles and quality mark, and positive PR for government initiatives in this context.

Worked with Business India Group, Zee Group, Observer group, Blitz, et al: 1991-1997: editorial engagements in various capacities.

Educational qualifications:

Pursuing PhD Doctoral Thesis on Media Convergence in Pt Deendayal University (PDPU, Gujarat); Masters in International Relations, Jadavpur University; MPhil;

PG Diploma in Journalism and Communication, 9^th in all India CBSE Exams in 1981 (Class X)

Leadership work:

• School Monitor, Ramkrishna Mission School, Along, Arunachal Pradesh
• Cultural Secretary, Jadavpur University Arts Faculty, Kolkata
• Leading role in seminars and debates across educational life
• Leadership of ICONS Media Consultancy, Delhi
• Managing Trustee, Generation Next Charitable Trust, Pune
• Addressed a session of UN Human Rights Commission, Geneva, on issues connected to human rights violations of people affected by leprosy even after their cure
• Addressed a session on WHO on social stigma connected to communicable diseases
• Addressed youth in 26 cities of India in 2003-04 on India: Vision 2020.
• Times of India Lead India Contest: Pune City Finalist.

Contact details: Cell: +91-62921-90216 (India); Email: ujjwalk.chowdhury@gmail.com.