Prof. Dr. Prakash Divakaran, Vice-Chancellor of Himalayan University, is working to strengthen connections among industry experience, academic research, and higher education. With nearly three decades of experience in supply chain operations, logistics, and indirect taxation, he brings a practical understanding of business operations to his academic leadership. His career reflects a commitment to making higher education more relevant to industry requirements, research development, and student career opportunities.
His professional journey began in Kerala, where he developed his career through operational and managerial responsibilities in the corporate sector. Starting as a store-in-charge, he gained experience in indirect taxation and supply chain operations while working with established industrial companies, including TEK Electromechanicals, TACO Hendrickson, TATA YAZAKI, Minda Industries, and Polyrub Cooper Standard.
These roles exposed him to the practical challenges of logistics, procurement, business operations, taxation, and international trade. Over time, this experience became an important foundation for his academic work, allowing him to approach research and management education with an understanding of how organisations function beyond textbooks and theoretical models.
Connecting Industry Knowledge with Academic Research
For Prof. Dr. Prakash Divakaran, the value of education lies not only in the knowledge students acquire but also in their ability to apply it in professional settings. His corporate experience has shaped his research interests in logistics and supply chain management, strategic management, and international business operations.
His academic philosophy supports industry-aligned curricula that give students opportunities to develop practical skills alongside theoretical knowledge. As employers continue to seek graduates who can contribute effectively from the beginning of their careers, he advocates for educational programmes that respond to workplace expectations and changing professional requirements.
This approach also emphasises research that addresses operational and managerial challenges. Through his academic contributions, Dr. Divakaran has documented and examined issues related to supply chains, logistics, economics, and management. His work includes more than 150 national and international research publications and seven books, reflecting his continued engagement with academic writing and knowledge development.
His academic qualifications include B.Com, MBA, M.Com, M.Phil, PGDM in Supply Chain and International Business, and a PhD in Supply Chain Management. These qualifications, combined with his professional experience, have shaped his work across research, teaching, academic publishing, and institutional leadership.
Leading Himalayan University with a Practical Outlook
As Vice-Chancellor of Himalayan University in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, Prof. Dr. Divakaran is focused on strengthening academic opportunities while connecting the university with wider professional and research networks. His leadership emphasises industry partnerships, interdisciplinary research, and international academic collaboration.
Industry engagement can help students understand the practical demands of their chosen fields before entering the workforce. Internships, vocational learning modules, and sessions with industry professionals can complement classroom instruction by exposing students to workplace expectations and professional practices. Integrating these opportunities into degree programmes can also help institutions identify areas where course content needs strengthening.
Research is another important part of this approach. By encouraging faculty members and postgraduate scholars to examine regional logistical, economic, and managerial issues, universities can contribute to discussions that have practical relevance for communities and organisations. Such work can also give students opportunities to develop analytical skills and apply research methods to clearly defined problems.
International collaboration offers further opportunities for academic development. Joint symposiums, institutional memoranda of understanding, and engagement with scholars from different countries can expand research networks and create opportunities for knowledge exchange. For students in Northeast India, these connections can provide greater exposure to international academic perspectives while allowing institutions to build relationships beyond their immediate region.
Building International Research Connections
Alongside his university responsibilities, Prof. Dr. Divakaran serves as Founder, Director, and Chief Executive Officer of Infinite Global Research Conference Pvt. Ltd., associated with the Infinite Global Research Conference (GRCF). The initiative brings researchers and academics together through international research platforms.
Academic collaboration across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and other regions can help researchers share findings, discuss emerging questions, and identify areas for further study. Research conferences also offer scholars opportunities to present their work, receive feedback, and build professional connections across disciplines.
Dr. Divakaran’s involvement in research conferences reflects his interest in creating platforms where academic discussions extend beyond individual institutions. Such initiatives can support the exchange of ideas and encourage researchers to consider different perspectives when examining complex subjects.
His contribution to academic publishing further complements this work. He has held editorial responsibilities, including Editor-in-Chief and editor roles, with journals such as the International Journal of Logistics Management and Strategic Studies (IJLMSS) and Phoenix International Multidisciplinary Research Journal, as identified in his professional profile. These responsibilities place him within the broader process of reviewing, developing, and disseminating scholarly work.
His recognitions include the Best International Author of Research and Management Books award and the Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Emerging Author Award, as listed in his professional profile.
A Continuing Focus on Relevant Education
The transition from corporate operations to university leadership gives Prof. Dr. Divakaran a perspective shaped by both professional practice and academic inquiry. His experience in supply chain management informs his view that educational institutions should prepare students to understand practical challenges, evaluate information, and contribute meaningfully to their chosen professions.
For Himalayan University, the focus on industry engagement, research development, and international collaboration represents an approach to connecting academic learning with opportunities beyond the classroom. Continued development in these areas can help students gain broader exposure while encouraging faculty and researchers to address questions relevant to their fields.
As higher education institutions respond to changing workforce requirements and growing expectations for research contributions, the relationship between academic knowledge and practical experience remains important. Prof. Dr. Divakaran’s work brings these areas together through university leadership, scholarly publishing, and international research initiatives.
His broader objective is to support an educational environment in which academic learning, professional skills, and research contribute to student development and institutional progress. Through his responsibilities at Himalayan University and Infinite Global Research Conference Pvt. Ltd., he continues to strengthen links among industry knowledge, academic collaboration, and the practical needs of higher education.
He was recently invited to deliver a Keynote Address at the First Sanskrit International Conference organised by Arya University, California, USA, and was also invited as a distinguished guest to attend the university’s Convocation Ceremony. His international academic engagements reflect his commitment to advancing higher education, research, and global academic collaboration.
He has participated in numerous international academic conferences and professional events across the United States, Thailand, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, the Philippines and China. In 2016, he was invited to speak at the AIAG Corporate Responsibility Summit in Michigan, USA, where he presented insights on supply chain research, highlighting his expertise in supply chain management, corporate responsibility, and industry-oriented research.
