DR. THANIKACHALAM VEDHATHIRI WON BEST RESEARCHER OF THE YEAR IN THE FIELD OF CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

BY SCIENTIFIC LAURELS Center for International Affairs INDIA

Dr. Thanikachalam Vedhathiri is a distinguished academician and former Professor at the National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research (NITTTR), India, with an illustrious teaching and research career spanning over 50 years. His work in engineering education, curriculum development, faculty training, and educational media has significantly shaped the quality of technical education in India and abroad.

As a Fulbright Senior Research Fellow (1988) and World Bank Postdoctoral Fellow (1999, University of Illinois, USA), Dr. Vedhathiri has conducted pioneering research in educational video production, multimedia learning packages, and engineering education methodologies. He has also served as a visiting academic at renowned institutions, including Indiana University, Purdue University, State University of New York at Albany, and Far Eastern University, Russia.

Research Contributions

Dr. Vedhathiri has contributed extensively to curriculum evaluation, design, and revision in emerging technologies, faculty development, and action research in engineering education. His projects have been supported by leading international organizations such as UNESCO, UNDP, USAID, World Bank, and Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Some of his landmark contributions include:

  • Development of Multimedia Learning Packages (MMLP) for engineering education.

  • Designing the M.Sc. (Forestry) Curriculum for the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education.

  • Training vocational teachers in biochemistry, paper technology, and irrigation management.

  • Advancing faculty development and institutional capacity building under World Bank–assisted projects.

  • Conducting interdisciplinary research programs leading to doctoral studies in engineering education.

  • Producing monographs, textbooks, manuals, case studies, item banks, and video programs for technical learning

He has Published about 200 research articles consisting of technical papers, reports, monographs, and Textbooks and Prepared 20 Video programs in foundation engineering, earth moving equipment, environment, human resources development, safe work practices, bridge engineering, and continuing education.

He has authored 18 publications including textbooks, research papers, manuals, and video-based learning resources, in addition to presenting 21 research papers at national and international conferences. 

Eighteen research scholars of the institute have earned their doctoral degrees in Engineering Education under the supervision of Dr. Thanikachalam Vedhathiri

Awards & Recognition

Dr. Vedhathiri’s outstanding academic and research contributions have earned him several prestigious awards and honors:

  • UNESCO Travel Grant (1979) – for curriculum development presentation in South Korea.

  • UNDP Travel Grant (1982) – for multimedia package development at Indiana University, USA.

  • Fulbright Fellowship (1988) – Senior Researcher in educational media.

  • World Bank Postdoctoral Fellowship (1999) – University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA.

  • Government of India Travel Grants (1991) – Colombo Plan Staff College program.

  • Recognition by Ministry of Education & Science, Khabarovsk Krai, Russia (2012) – Certificate of Appreciation (БЛАГОДАРСТВЕННОЕ ПИСЬМО) for plenary talk and active participation in the international conference “Happy Teacher: New Professional Competence”.

  • Organization of American States (OAS) Recognition (2013) – Honored at the Radical Innovation Summit (funded by the NSF, organized with the University of Illinois, NCSA, Beckman Institute, iFoundry, and ARTCA) in Washington, D.C., for excellence, innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration in education.

  • I2OR Awards (2021–2023) – Distinguished Educator, Distinguished Researcher, International Teaching Excellence.

  • Best Paper Awards (2021 & 2022) – International Conferences on Technical Education.

  • Community Recognition (2008) – Guines68 facilitation for academic accomplishments.

Global Engagements

  • Attended 46 international and national conferences, presenting groundbreaking work on technical education.

  • Served as editorial board member/reviewer for 23 professional journals.

  • Membership in 14 professional organizations worldwide.

  • Played a crucial role in training engineers, executives, and faculty members in India and least-developed countries through capacity-building initiatives.

Ongoing Research (2023–2025)

  • Creative Cognitive Concept: A critical analysis in the context of workplace deviance and faculty engagement.

  • Institute-Based Management Research: Focus on ethics, equity, culture, leadership, and faculty engagement.

Eligibility for Best Researcher of the Year

With a five-decade-long academic career, global fellowships, pathbreaking curriculum and faculty development initiatives, interdisciplinary research leadership, and worldwide recognition—including honors from UNESCO, UNDP, World Bank, Fulbright, OAS, and the Russian Ministry of Education—Dr. Thanikachalam Vedhathiri is eminently eligible for the “Best Researcher of the Year” under Scientific Laurels.

His sustained dedication to engineering education reform, research excellence, and human capital development has made a lasting global impact, positioning him as one of the most accomplished and respected researchers in his field.