Rohitashw Kumar | Sustainability Strategies | Lifetime achievement Award

Prof Dr. Rohitashw Kumar | Sustainability Strategies | Lifetime achievement Award

Prof Dr. Rohitashw Kumar, SKUAST-Kashmir Srinagar, India

Dr. Rohitashw Kumar (b. 15 August 1973) is a seasoned academic and innovator in agricultural engineering. Currently serving as the Associate Dean of the College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology and Head of the Division of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), he is a pioneering figure in the integration of artificial intelligence and smart technologies in agriculture. His career spans over two decades of excellence in research, teaching, and institutional leadership, underscored by numerous national awards and impactful publications. 🌾📡

 📘 Profile

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🎓 Education

Dr. Kumar earned his Ph.D. in Water Resources Engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur in 2014, focusing on moisture uptake modelling in multi-layered soils. He previously completed his M.E. in Irrigation Water Management Engineering (1999) and B.E. in Agricultural Engineering (1997) from the College of Technology & Agricultural Engineering, Udaipur. His academic foundation is rooted in strong mathematical and scientific principles developed through his schooling in Rajasthan. 📘🧠

🧪 Experience

With rich experience in academia, Dr. Kumar has led multiple high-impact initiatives at SKUAST-K. He was a Visiting Fellow at Western Sydney University, Australia (April–June 2022), contributing to global agricultural research. As a mentor, he has guided award-winning M.Tech. theses and collaborated on national projects in watershed hydrology, protected cultivation, and automation in agriculture. His leadership extends beyond education into policy and applied research benefiting farming communities. 🌍🔬

🔬 Research Interests

Dr. Kumar’s interdisciplinary research blends advanced technology with environmental sustainability. His interests include artificial intelligence in agriculture, IoT-based automation systems, protected cultivation, hydroponics, and water resource modeling. His Ph.D. focused on plant-soil moisture interactions, while his ongoing work explores smart irrigation systems and watershed hydrology. His innovative approach continues to bridge engineering solutions with practical agricultural applications. 💧🤖🌱

🏆 Awards

Dr. Kumar’s illustrious career is decorated with national honors. He was awarded the Professor Water Chair by the Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India, and the National Geospatial Faculty Fellow Award (2024) by IIT Bombay. Other accolades include the Gold Medal Award (2022), Leadership Award (2020), Distinguished Alumni Award (2019), and Special Research Awards (2017, 2015). His excellence in mentoring, publishing, and environmental protection has earned him over a dozen national recognitions. 🥇📜

📚 Publication Top Notes

A review on emerging water contaminants and the application of sustainable removal technologies

Climate change and its impact on plant diseases

Climate change and its impact on agricultural productivity in India

Impact of COVID-related lockdowns on environmental and climate change scenarios

Methods to estimate irrigated reference crop evapotranspiration–a review

Sustainable nanotechnology based wastewater treatment strategies: achievements, challenges and future perspectives

Methods to estimate evapotranspiration in humid and subtropical climate conditions

Biogas: a boon for sustainable energy development in India׳ s cold climate

Desalination: From ancient to present and future

The evolution of agricultural drainage from the earliest times to the presen

Demissie Hankebo | Strategic Planning | Academic Leadership in Business Strategy Award

Dr. Demissie Hankebo | Strategic Planning | Academic Leadership in Business Strategy Award

Dr. Demissie Hankebo,  Instructor and researcher, Wolaita Sodo University, Ethiopia

Dr. Demissie Dalelo Hankebo is an accomplished Ethiopian academic and higher education leader with over two decades of experience in teaching, strategic planning, and institutional quality assurance. 🎓 Currently serving as the Director of Institutional Quality Assurance at Woliata Sodo University, he has played a key role in advancing educational leadership in Ethiopia. Known for his visionary thinking, strategic insight, and commitment to faculty development, Dr. Hankebo has significantly contributed to academic planning, research development, and institutional governance. 🇪🇹

🧑‍💼 Profile

Orcid

🎓 Education

Dr. Hankebo holds a PhD in Education Management from the University of South Africa, a Master’s degree in Human Resource and Organizational Development, and a BA in Educational Planning and Management—all from Addis Ababa University. 📘 His academic journey began in Wonji and continued with a strong focus on organizational efficiency and institutional reform. He also earned a Diploma in Educational Planning and has completed numerous training programs in leadership, civic education, and teacher development. 📚

👨‍🏫 Experience

With over 10 years of primary teaching and 4 years as a school principal, Dr. Hankebo transitioned to higher education, where he has taught for more than 20 years at Woliata Sodo University. 🏫 He has been instrumental in delivering undergraduate and postgraduate education, supervising research, and mentoring faculty. As a seasoned academic, he has led university-wide induction training, chaired strategic committees, and co-developed the university’s recent strategic plan. He also serves on national panels for curriculum review and research evaluation. 🔍

🔬 Research Interests

Dr. Hankebo’s research interests lie in education management, institutional development, teacher training, and strategic leadership in academia. 🧠 He focuses on improving learning outcomes through quality assurance, civic engagement, and performance-based evaluation systems. His involvement in the Higher Education Strategic Center (HESC) reflects his commitment to national reform and policy innovation in education. 📈

🏅 Awards & Recognitions

Dr. Hankebo has received various certifications and commendations for his service in leadership training, conflict resolution, cooperative learning, and civic education. 🥇 His leadership in preparing the institutional strategic plan and conducting academic staff induction for over a decade has earned him respect across regional academic communities.

📚 Publication Top Notes

Hankebo, D. D. (2022). Strategic Educational Planning in the Context of Developing Nations, Ethiopian Journal of Educational Management. Cited by 9 articles.

Hankebo, D. D. (2021). Institutional Quality Assurance and Faculty Development, African Higher Education Review. Cited by 12 articles.

Hankebo, D. D. (2020). Civic Education and Leadership in Ethiopian Schools, International Journal of Education and Development. Cited by 15 articles.