Dr. Vishwas Bhaskarrao Gaikwad is positioned as the Ombudsperson at Dnyaan Prasad Global University (DPGU), Pune, and is a distinguished academician, visionary leader, and accomplished researcher with more than four decades of teaching, research, and administrative experience in higher education. He currently also holds the position of Regional Director at Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU), Nashik, and serves as a Member of the NEP 2020 Steering Committee, Government of Maharashtra. Throughout his illustrious career, Dr. Gaikwad has contributed significantly to policy formulation, academic governance, and institutional excellence, playing a pivotal role in advancing the standards of higher education in Maharashtra and beyond.

Dr. Gaikwad holds an M.Sc., M.Phil., and Ph.D. in Chemistry and Environmental Science, with specialization in Material Chemistry, Gas Sensing, Environmental Chemistry, Green Chemistry, Nanotechnology, Bioremediation, and Instrumentation. A prolific researcher and academic mentor, he has guided 17 Ph.D. and 6 M.Phil. scholars, co-guided 10 Ph.D. students, and supervised numerous research projects funded by national agencies. His scholarly contributions include more than 100 research papers in reputed national and international journals, 17 authored books, and 13 book chapters. His Google Scholar record reflects over 2,400 citations with an h-index of 27, underscoring his impact in scientific research.

In his extensive administrative journey, Dr. Gaikwad has held several key leadership positions including Director, Board of College and University Development (BCUD) at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), Dean of the Faculty of Science, and Member of the Management Council, Senate, and Academic Council of SPPU. He also served as Principal of K.T.H.M. College, Nashik, under whose stewardship the institution achieved NAAC ‘A++’ accreditation with a CGPA of 3.79 and received the Best College Award from SPPU. His tenure as Director, BCUD, was marked by major academic reforms, the implementation of the Choice-Based Credit System, and the establishment of collaborations with national and international universities.

Dr. Gaikwad’s outstanding academic leadership has been recognized through numerous awards, including the Best Teacher Award and Best Principal Award by the Government of Maharashtra and Savitribai Phule Pune University. A Fellow of the Maharashtra Academy of Science (MAS), he continues to be an influential figure in shaping educational policies, fostering research innovation, and promoting holistic institutional development. His career exemplifies a lifelong commitment to academic excellence, integrity, and transformative leadership in higher education.