Pro Vice Chancellor Dr. Birajashis Pattnaik focuses on connecting academia with industry to create society-ready and job-ready students. With decades of academic leadership, he emphasizes discipline, skills, values, and holistic education for long-term success.

Distinguished Academic Leader and Institution Builder, Dr. Birajashis Pattnaik currently serves as the Pro Vice-Chancellor at Medicaps University, Indore. His core work focuses on bridging the gap between academia and industry, ensuring that students become industry-ready before they graduate from the university and become capable of contributing meaningfully to society.

His motivation is to create an impact, which drives students and their parents to have complete faith in the institution, that students graduating from the university are both society-ready and corporate-ready. Keeping this vision in mind, the university works toward equipping students with relevant skills and preparing them for their future careers.

Dr. Pattnaik shares that Medicaps began its journey around the year 2000 as an institution and was converted into a university in 2016. Since becoming a university, its primary objective has been to instill discipline in the students and to keep them updated with evolving skills and knowledge.

Currently, the university has nine faculties (schools) and around 18 departments, including Engineering, Management, Agriculture, General Sciences, and Law. There are multiple deans handling areas such as Student Affairs, Academics, Agriculture, and Management. The university has approximately 500 teaching faculty members and around 500 non-teaching staff.

In terms of scale, Medicaps University has nearly 14,000 students and a large campus. In Central India, it holds a strong position as a well-regarded private university.

Dr. Birajashis Pattnaik was born in Odisha and completed his schooling there. For higher education, he pursued his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Mysore. He completed his Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Sambalpur University, one of the earliest engineering institutes in the eastern region of India. Later, he completed his PhD from IIT Kharagpur. Throughout his academic journey, he gained exposure to different education systems across regions and understood the deep importance of education in shaping lives.

He believes that education impacts life far beyond academics. Parents have high expectations when they send their children to educational institutions—not just in terms of subject knowledge, but also in learning values, lifestyle discipline, and respect for society. These aspects shape individuals throughout life. His childhood was largely spent in Odisha, but due to his parents’ transferable jobs, he experienced different environments, cultures, and friendships, which greatly benefited him and broadened his perspective. Today, this exposure supports his work in the education sector.

Early in his career, he realised that education plays a crucial role in life transformation. With this understanding, he decided to dedicate his life to the education sector. He began his career as a Lecturer, progressed to Associate Professor, Professor, and later moved into leadership roles such as Head of Department, Dean, and Director of Engineering Colleges. Over 16 years, he worked across different regions including Punjab, Uttarakhand, Odisha, and Haryana, which helped him build strong academic and leadership foundations.

He shares that he worked at Amity University, West Bengal, and Chandigarh University, Punjab, where he gained valuable experience. He aims to implement these learnings in universities. He considers himself deeply connected to grassroots realities and understands students’ expectations well. He is especially mindful of parents from middle-class backgrounds who invest heavily in their children’s education, expecting a meaningful return in terms of career growth and stability. With this responsibility in mind, the university sincerely works to shape students not only into good human beings but also into skilled individuals who can adapt to industry changes and contribute positively to society.

Dr. Pattnaik shares that his father is his greatest inspiration and role model. From him, he learned discipline and the value of hard work. His father, a Chief Engineer in the Irrigation Department, maintained a strict routine and work ethic that deeply influenced him. Over time, he also drew inspiration from Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, former President of India, who combined scientific brilliance with humility and possessed a powerful national vision. He follows these principles in his own life and work.

A quote by Dr. Abdul Kalam that inspires him deeply is:

“सपने वो नहीं होते जो हम नींद में देखते हैं, सपने वो होते हैं जो हमें नींद नहीं आने देते।”

This quote reminds him that dedication and sincere effort give purpose and fulfilment in life. He believes that fulfilling one’s responsibilities with honesty and commitment brings peace and meaning. He constantly keeps in mind that parents trust the university with their children, and he strives to ensure that this trust is honoured by helping students reach their potential and fulfil the purpose for which they joined the institution.

Medicaps University Pro Vice-chancellor Dr. Birajashis Pattnaik shares that he is proud of the new generation, often referred to as Gen Z. He finds them intelligent, health-conscious, decisive, and independent in their thinking. Unlike earlier generations that focused primarily on completing education and securing jobs, today’s youth seek individuality and self-identity. They are confident in expressing their views and making decisions. He appreciates this mindset and encourages them to balance this independence with societal and family values.

His message to the youth is to live with values, dedication, and hard work, while always considering how their growth can benefit the country. For students, he says that he too was once a student with big dreams but limited clarity on how to move forward. He advises students to choose role models, follow the paths shown by them, and remember that hard work is the ultimate solution.

Success may come early or late, and sometimes life may take unexpected turns. However, success will eventually find those who stay dedicated. His advice is simple: stay focused on the purpose for which you joined the university, work hard with dedication, and success will surely follow.