J. A. K. Tareen

Jalees Ahmed Khan Tareen
Born	Mysore, Karnataka, India
Nationality	Indian
Fields	Geologist, Experimental Mineralogy and Solid State Chemistry
Institutions	B. S. Abdur Rahman University, Pondicherry University, University of Mysore, University of Kashmir
Notable awards	Received the National Mineral Award Golden Jubilee Science & Technology Award of Mysore University Mineralogical Society Gold Medal Padma Shri (2009)

Jalees Ahmed Khan Tareen, also known as J.A.K. Tareen, was born in Mysore, Karnataka, India in 1947. He was the vice-chancellor of B. S. Abdur Rahman University, in Chennai, India from 2013 to March 31, 2015.^[1] He was the recipient of the Padma Shri award 2009 for the Literature & Education given by the Government of India.^[2] He is one of the current advisory board member of South Asia Foundation (SAF) from India.^[3]

Education

Tareen has received his master of science (Geology, 1967), and PhD (Experimental Mineralogy, 1977) from Mysore university, India and second PhD from Bordeaux University, France (Solid State Chemistry, 1987). He was also a visiting scientist at Tokyo Institute of Technology-Japan, Bordeaux University-France, Edinburgh University-UK and Mekele University-Ethiopia.

Professional career

Tareen has served the university of Mysore for 33 years (1967–2000) at department of geology as a lecturer, professor, professor and head, and finally as a director of mineralogical institute. He has published notable research papers^[4] and two fundamental crystallography books, namely “A Basic Course in Crystallography” and “Fundamentals of Crystal Chemistry”.^[5][6]

Later on, in 2001 he has become the vice-chancellor of Kashmir university (2001–2004). Kashmir, India. With his successful guidance within a short span of time, the university has emerged as an ‘A’ grade, given by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).

Later, he served as CEO of South Asia Foundation and active member of university grants commission (UGC), India. He was involved in preparing the XII plan document on higher education on issues of Quality and increasing Access.^[7][8] The University Grants Commission (UGC) is currently considering the new norms on teacher to student ratio suggested by Tareen and his committee constituted by the commission.^[9]

Then after, he served as the vice-chancellor of Pondicherry University (2007-2013),^[10] where the university is developed as a favored destination for teachers and students.^[11][12] In a short span of five years, the university has taken a big leap ahead, with 15 new innovative Master's Programs and 2 Post-Graduate Centers at Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Karaikal. Recently, he has launched twenty-two post graduate Diploma programs and 9 foreign language courses in the evening times for the students to concurrently take them along with the main degree programs. Pondicherry University has emerged as the fastest expanding central University in the country in terms of student strength, faculty strength, infrastructure (the built-in space doubled), laboratory facilities, library, hostel accommodation, sports and student support system and has been accredited as A grade university after a lapse of 20 years of B grade Ranking. Prof Tareen is an acclaimed Institution Builder.^{[13][14][15][16]}

He served as the vice-chancellor of B. S. Abdur Rahman University, in Chennai, India, from 2013 to 2015.^[1] This university has also been awarded A grade by NAAC.

Prof. Tareen is the first Vice Chancellor to Head three universities and obtain A grade ranking to all the three.

Awards and Honors

J A K Tareen with president Mrs. Pratibha Patil

Professor Tareen is a recipient of several state as well as national awards.^[2] Taking into account of his contribution as a scientist and educationalist, Indian government has awarded the Padma Shri to him in 2009.^[17] He has also received many other notable awards like National Mineral award, Golden Jubilee Science & Technology award of Mysore University, and Mineralogical Society Gold Medal award.

Other activities

Tareen is a scientist, artiste and also a writer, who not only has experience in science and technology, but has love for humanities.^[2] Tareen has published his memoirs of Kashmir as a book, named the “Fire under the Snowflakes-The return of Kashmir University”.^[18][19] His ideas on education is revealed by his talks and interviews which includes ‘higher education’, ‘education for all’, ‘making Indian universities globally competitive’, etc.^{[20][21][22][23]}

Notes and references

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to J. A. K. Tareen.

• Pondicherry University
• Pondicherry University
• http://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=ab84JLcAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&pagesize=100
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKjZzElDPks&feature=bf_next&list=UUyOJjdayEF7wcCBOrysazmA
• http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/interviews/india-lacks-ranking-mechanism-distinguish-between-performing-and-non-performing-vc
• http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/article/mhrd-ugc-and-universities-are-we-really-connected
• http://www.indiaeducationreview.com/article/bold-structural-changes-needed-indian-higher-education-system-during-xii-plan