Media Release

Udupi, Jul 2: Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), an institution of eminence deemed to be university, has announced the appointment of Dr Karunakar A Kotegar as pro vice chancellor, Technology & Science, MAHE, with effect from July 1.

Dr Kotegar succeeds Dr Narayana Sabhahit, who will complete his tenure as pro vice chancellor and transitions into an advisory position.

A distinguished academician and administrator, Dr Kotegar brings more than 29 years of experience in teaching, research, academic leadership, and international collaborations in higher education. He joins MAHE from Manipal University Jaipur, where he has served as pro-president since October 2024.

As professor and head of the department of data science and computer applications at Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT), Manipal, he has published more than 75 papers in internationally indexed journals and conference proceedings. He has successfully guided nine doctoral scholars and continues to mentor research candidates.

An active contributor to the global academic community, Dr Kotegar is a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and a life member of the Indian Society for Technical Education. He has played a prominent role in advancing the internationalisation of higher education at MAHE through his leadership in the International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE) as its secretary, which oversees operations across 87 countries, and as also president of IAESTE India.

In recognition of his contributions to higher education and academic governance, Dr Kotegar was a syndicate member of Mangalore University from June 2020 to June 2023, having been nominated by the governor of Karnataka.