University of Melbourne appoints Shoolini University vice-chancellor Atul Khosla honorary enterprise professor

The University of Melbourne has appointed Shoolini University’s vice chancellor Atul Khosla as honorary enterprise professor. The enterprise professorship is awarded to global leaders who have made contributions at the intersection of academics, innovation, and enterprise.

Khosla has joined group of thought leaders and entrepreneurs recognised by the University of Melbourne’s faculty of science for global collaboration and innovation-led education.

After leaving a successful global corporate career, he has led Shoolini University to become India’s No. 1 private university as per Times Higher Education 2025 and ranked among the world’s top 300 universities in citations. Under his leadership, Shoolini has emerged as a model of research excellence, innovation, and social impact in the Global South.

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“Khosla is also leading Daskalos, a pioneering initiative that partners with top global universities — including the University of Bristol, York, Aberdeen, and Liverpool among others — to establish campuses in India under the UGC’s new foreign universities framework,” the official Shoolini University press release reads.

With this appointment, Khosla joins a cohort of honorary enterprise professors at the University of Melbourne including luminaries such as Greg Hunt, James P Gorman AO, Russell Harrison, Carol Lakkis, and Stephen Duckett — leaders in public policy, business, health, and academics globally.

Upon his appointment Khosla said: “This recognition by one of the world’s great universities reinforces our belief that Indian universities can stand shoulder to shoulder with the best globally. It also reflects the growing collaboration between the Global North and South in building a more inclusive knowledge future.”