MUMBAI: Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayanan, in his capacity as the Chancellor of the universities in the State, today appointed Dr Rajan M Welukar, former Vice Chancellor of the Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University as the new Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mumbai.

The appointment shall come into effect from the date Dr Welukar assumes the charge of the office of the Vice Chancellor and shall be for a term of five years, an official release said.

The Chancellor had a personal interaction with all the five candidates short-listed by the Search Committee headed by Dr Ashok Kolaskar today. They included Dr N S Gajbhiye, Vice Chancellor of Dr Harisingh Gour Central University, Sagar (MP), Dr Nilima Kshirsagar, Professor and Dean, P G Institute of Medical Science and Research, MGM Hospital, Mumbai, Dr Alka Gogte, Ex-Professor and Dean, Lokmanya Tilak Medical College and Hospital, Sion, Mumbai, Dr Naresh Chandra, Principal, Birla College, Kalyan in Thane and Dr Welukar.

Dr Welukar holds Masters Degree and Ph D in statistics. He has 25 years of experience in the field of higher education which includes teaching at the under-graduate and post-graduate levels, academic administration, training and capacity building, community service and youth development, the release said.

He had been serving as the Director of Sydenham Institute of Management Studies, Research and Entrepreneurship Education (SIMSREE) from September 2009.

Between 2004 and 2009, he served as the Vice Chancellor of the Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University, Nashik. Earlier, he served as Senior Programme Officer and HRD Lead Officer to the Commonwealth Secretariat's Commonwealth Youth Programme, Asia Region.

Dr Welukar was an Officer on Special Duty in the Higher and Technical Department of Government of Maharashtra and also served as Deputy Secretary (Education) to the Governor of Maharashtra between March 2002 and October 2003.