Dr Hardik Vachharajani

(Director, Symbiosis International University)

Dr. Hardik Vachharajani is a dynamic academic leader and researcher with over two decades of experience in higher education, research strategy, and institutional development across India, Australia, and Europe. As Director of the Symbiosis Centre for Research and Innovation (SCRI), he brings a strategic and globally aligned approach to advancing research culture, academic excellence, and societal impact.

Dr. Hardik holds a PhD in Management from NMIMS University, India (AACSB accredited), and completed his post-doctoral research at the University of Bologna, Italy, under the prestigious Erasmus Mundus Fellowship program. He has secured research funding from leading international agencies such as the Swiss National Science Foundation, the European Commission, and universities including Deakin University, Australia. His scholarly interests span strategy, innovation, entrepreneurship, and higher education systems.

He has authored peer-reviewed publications, conference papers, and book chapters, contributing meaningfully to both academic literature and practical discourse in management and higher education.

He is a Chartered Manager and Member of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), UK; a Fellow of the Institute of Managers and Leaders (IML), Australia and New Zealand; and a Certified Professional and Member of the Australian Computer Society (ACS).

In addition to leading SCRI, Dr. Hardik serves as Director of Quality Management and Benchmarking at Symbiosis International (Deemed University), where he has played a pivotal role in elevating the university’s global standing. His contributions include the university’s entry into the QS World University Rankings 2025 (641–650 band), achieving and maintaining the prestigious NAAC A++ grade—the highest possible national accreditation rating in India—and successfully leading several national and international program accreditations across disciplines.

Dr. Hardik remains deeply committed to building a research ecosystem that is ethical, interdisciplinary, and aligned with India’s developmental goals and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).