Karunakar Jha appointed as the new academic director of Universal Business School, Mumbai

Experienced corporate practitioner and academician Karunakar Jha has been appointed as the new academic director of Mumbai's Universal Business School (UBS).

In this role, Jha will deliver high quality outcomes, set the academic standards, collaborate across the multiple programmes, deliberate on faculty productivity assessment, and develop industry-international connections with teaching, research publications and power mentoring interventions.

A Bachelor’s in History from Fergusson College at Pune, Jha did his MBA from the Institute of Management Development and Research in Pune followed by a Doctorate in Marketing from Patna University.

During his professional journey, Jha has been a part of some well-known conglomerates such as AMUL, Unilever, Lipton India, The Times of India group, the Samson’s group and Mobile18 in leadership positions. Besides, he was the director (School of Management) at Jagran LakeCity University (JLU) in Bhopal.

Prior to joining UBS, Jha served for over six years at the University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES) as professor of marketing and faculty head of student Council, where he was awarded the title of ‘Most Admired Professor of Marketing’. He also served as associate dean (MDP and Corporate Relations) and academic-in-charge with the School of Modern Media (UPES). He has also had an entrepreneurial stint as director and co-founder of Cricketnext.com.

“I am thrilled to be entrusted with this golden opportunity at Universal Business School as director (Academic Affairs). This is the apt podium for me to elevate and accomplish my mission of being an upholder of educational transformation in our country while leveraging newer methodologies of delivering education,” said Jha.

“It gives me immense pride to embrace renewed efforts on sustainability for our students. Streamlined focus on augmenting teaching effectiveness by providing tailor-made solutions to enhance student productivity along with devising the latest methodologies to make our students poised and ready for the international stage is something that I am really looking forward to," he added.

Commenting on this strategic appointment, Tarun Anand, the founder and chairman of UBS, said, “With an expectation that Dr Jha will be a committed custodian and a torch bearer towards the turning points in our journey of transformation, we welcome him to the Universal Business School family and wish him all the very best in this role."