Dr. Santosh Shriram Sonavane is an accomplished academic leader, administrator and researcher with 27 years of experience in higher education, including 17 years in senior leadership positions. He currently serves as Vice Chancellor of PCET’s Pimpri Chinchwad University, Pune (since 5 November 2025).
His previous leadership roles include Founding Vice-Chancellor, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Pro-Vice Chancellor, Dean-Academics and Campus Director at institutions across India, including Amity University Uttar Pradesh (Noida), Dr. Vishwanath Karad MIT World Peace University, Vijaybhoomi University (Mumbai), Symbiosis Skills & Professional University, Ajeenkya DY Patil University, Modern Education Society (Wadia Group), Dr. D. Y. Patil Technical Campus and MIT Academy of Engineering, Pune.
He holds a Ph.D. in Electronics Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (ISM), Dhanbad, and has extensive expertise in academic governance, university administration, accreditation, strategic planning, admissions, internationalisation, research management and the implementation of NEP 2020.
He has contributed across curricular design and development, new programme launches, AI-based teaching and learning, research, entrepreneurship and innovation, e-learning and quality assurance, including strategic interventions for rankings such as NIRF, THE, QS World and IIRF, and has handled national and international accreditations such as NAAC, NBA, QAA, WASC and ABET.
Educational Qualifications
- Ph.D. (Electronics Engineering) — Indian Institute of Technology (ISM), Dhanbad, 2009. Thesis: Design of a Low Cost Wireless Sensor Network
- M.E. (Electronics) — J.N.E.C., Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad, 2005 — First Class
- B.E. (Electronics) — Pravara Engineering College, Loni (University of Pune), 1998 — First Class
Core Expertise
- University Leadership & Academic Administration
- Strategic Planning & Institutional Development
- Accreditation & Quality Assurance (NAAC, NBA, WASC, QAA, ABET)
- Outcome-Based Education & NEP 2020 Implementation
- Research & Innovation Management
- Industry–Academia Collaboration
- Digital Transformation & AI-integrated Higher Education
Professional Memberships
- Senior Member, IEEE
- Life Member, ISTE (Indian Society for Technical Education)
Doctoral Supervision
Registered Ph.D. guide at Savitribai Phule Pune University since April 2011. Three scholars have been awarded the Ph.D. and three have submitted their theses.