Professor Najma Akhtar is a distinguished Indian educationist and administrator whose four-decade career culminated in her historic appointment as the first woman Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), a central university in New Delhi. Her tenure (2019–2023) is widely regarded as an era of unprecedented institutional transformation, recognised at the highest national level with the Padma Shri award in 2022 for her contributions to literature and education.
Professor Akhtar’s path to leadership was built on a foundation of academic excellence and extensive administrative experience. A gold medalist from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) with a Ph.D. in Education, her early career included key roles as Controller of Examinations at AMU and Founder Director of the State Institute of Educational Management and Training (SIEMAT). Her international profile was honed through a Commonwealth Fellowship for university administration in the UK and 15 years at the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), where she led international training programs and consulted for UNESCO and UNICEF.
As Vice-Chancellor of JMI, Professor Akhtar implemented a strategic vision focused on measurable excellence and modernisation. Her most significant achievement was propelling JMI’s national standing. Under her leadership, the university surged in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), climbing from being unranked to securing the 3rd position among all Indian universities. This was complemented by achieving the highest ‘A++’ grade from the National Accreditation and Assessment Council (NAAC).
Her tenure was marked by significant academic expansion aimed at enhancing student employability. She established several new, forward-looking departments, including Design and Innovation, Environmental Science, and Virology. A cornerstone of her legacy was securing government approval for a long-awaited medical college at the university, a project she passionately advocated for throughout her term. Furthermore, she positioned JMI as an early adopter of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, even editing a scholarly volume to help shape the national discourse on its implementation.
Professor Akhtar is also a powerful advocate for women’s empowerment. She famously challenged the existence of the “glass ceiling” and worked to dismantle it through tangible actions. At JMI, she increased the enrollment of female students in STEM fields, promoted women to administrative leadership roles, and prioritised the construction of girls’ hostels to improve access to education.
Her impactful career has been celebrated with numerous honours, including the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award-Academia’ in 2023, which recognised her efforts in connecting education with employment. Professor Najma Akhtar’s legacy is that of a transformative leader who not only broke barriers but also fundamentally elevated her institution’s academic profile and national relevance.