Dr. Chitkara, fuelled with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Mathematics, Bachelor of Education, Master of Education, Master of Science in Mathematics and a Doctoral degree in Education has relentlessly worked towards developing and providing an environment which offers the best of teaching & learning pedagogies for the learners.

She has contributed to the field of education in a unique way that is worth applauding and stating. She was appointed as a resource person for imparting knowledge of content and implementation of National Educational Policy to all teachers of Chandigarh Schools in 1984. During the launch of BBC Micro computers in India, she was instrumental in giving trainings and imparting knowledge of CAI (Computer Assisted Instructions) to all the stakeholders of Chandigarh Administration. She has been instrumental in creating more than 61 relevant industry-linked programs in the fields of Hospitality, Communication and Pharmacy at graduate, postgraduate and doctorate level. Each program is supported by Industry. Her contribution also extends to building an incubation Centre for the students having an entrepreneurial mind with more than 60 countries in place which are running successfully.

Dr. Chitkara continuously works towards enriching the learning experience of the students starting from pre-primary level to doctoral level and devise methods of successful transformation from one level to another keeping in mind the demand of the changing & demanding industry. One such initiative conceptualised by Dr.Chitkara is Tek-8 for the school students. It is a joint effort of University & Schools’ Research Team to overhaul the technology curriculum for the students for grade 1 to 8 comprising of Mobile Application, Robotics, Electronics, Automobiles, Energy & Household Technologies. Dr. Chitkara’s passion for providing an apt learning experience to the students is clearly evident from the fact that she developed & assembled the kits for Tek-8 program herself.

Skill Development has been one of the important areas of work for Dr. Chitkara at school as well as University level. She conceptualised Co-curricular Squads at Chitkara International School to identify and hone the skills of school students with the help of Chitkara University Faculty, Students & Alumni. Squads run at the school are in the areas of Drama (Rasa Squad), Science (Big Bang Squad), Technology (Techplore Squad), Dance (Movers & Shakers Squad), Art (Palette Squad) Photography, Animation & Media (Animedia Squad), Hospitality & Grooming Squad, Sports (Rock Steady Squad), Scrapcraft Squad and Music (Dhwani Squad).
With the creative mindset, she established CURIN (Chitkara University Research & Innovation Network) a network of people who explore, innovate and think differently. She has built a strong network with 160 Universities and Institutions all across the globe covering USA, UK, France, Germany, China, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Australia, and many more to make the students globally acceptable and capable. It is her constant endeavour to create the strong Industry linkages to bring the best of employment opportunities for the young graduates in the companies of repute such as Infosys, Amazon, Mahindra, Fortis, Safexpress, SAP, Deloitte, Morgan Stanley, Ernst & Young & many more to count on.

Dr. Chitkara’s visionary thinking led her to design a globally acclaimed event; Global Week, which is a footprint of Global Engagement at Chitkara University and one of the best ways of Internationalising the student learning experience. This event serves as a catalyst for infusing cross-cultural competence, industry linkages, knowledge transfer as well as a phenomenal networking opportunity. Chitkara University has been continuously hosting this event for a decade now under the able guidance of Dr. Chitkara where eminent faculty members are invited from across the world to teach predetermined short module courses to university students across all disciplines.

For her endeavours, Dr. Madhu Chitkara has been felicitated with State Sward for Teachers in public recognition of valuable services to the community as a Teacher of Outstanding Merit in 1987. The Rashtra Nirman Ratna Award 2002 by Economic Growth Society of India, New Delhi was her another achievement. She also received Rashtriya Shiksha Ratan Award 2003 by All India Business Development Association, New Delhi.

Dr. Chitkara was bestowed with ‘The Life Time Achievement Gold Medal Award’ 2004 by Global Society for Health & Educational Growth, New Delhi. Also, The International Gold Star Millennium Award and Rajiv Gandhi Shiromani award by Global Economic Council. State Award For Teachers in public recognition of valuable services to the community as a teacher of outstanding merit fell in her lap for her unparalleled inputs. In November 2008, she along with one of her key team members visited various top Universities of the US from panning from Boston to Seattle with the intention of bringing about a massive change in the way education is viewed in the Nation. She visited The Georgia Tech University, University of Massachusetts (Umass), Purdue University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), University of Southern California, Harvard University and the University of Washington. Dr. Madhu Chitkara met and shared her knowledge with representatives from eminent Universities in the US like Lawrence Tech University, Rowan University, Laureate Education Inc, Northern Illinois University, University of Puerto Rico, University of Central Florida and many more.

This prolific visit had a one-point agenda to imbibe and assimilate the best available practices of the western education scenario and to initiate a more progressive educational environment. Soon after this visit, she was invited to attend the Clinton Global Initiative in Hong Kong (Dec 2008) with an opportunity to interact with Asia’s most influential leaders and to deal with the region’s most pressing issues.

For incredible contributions in the field of education, she was awarded ‘International Achiever’s Award 2009 for Women Entrepreneur. Also, on 8th March 2011, she was titled as one of “India’s Most Inspiring Women Engineers & Scientists” on International Women’s Day.

Dr. Madhu Chitkara was honoured with South East Asia Award for being one of the most Successful Entrepreneurs by Washington School of Business through its Hot Mommas Project. Hot Mommas is the World’s Largest Library of Women Entrepreneurs Case Studies managed and initiated by Washington School of Business, University of Washington. Dr. Madhu Chitkara is the only Winner in South East Asia to get this award.

Her constant efforts to brush the young brimming talent has helped her to fetch “Nurturer Of Talent Award” during 2nd Asia’s Best B-School Award Function on 22nd July 2011 in Suntec Singapore and “Nurture of Talent Award” during 19th Dewang Mehta B-School Awards held at The Taj, Lands End, Mumbai.

Dr. Madhu Chitkara was conferred with Visionary Leaders Award & Inspirational Leaders Award by Bloomberg/UTV. Moreover, she was felicitated with Innovation Leadership Award by DNA & stars of the Industry Group, Canada. Among her unending achievements were also “State Award -Women of The Year -2012, In Business & Profession Category by Dainik Bhaskar and Certificate of Excellence for Outstanding Achievers Award – FICCI – FLO 2013-14 by FICCI Ladies Organisation, New Delhi. She was also facilitated with Edupreneurs jury choice award 2013 for her contribution in creating an eco system for conceptualizing and implementing innovative projects at Chitkara University. She was also invited as one of the key speakers in World Education Summit 2013 in a forum organized by Digital Learning.

Under her leadership aspect, Chitkara University is the highest ranked university among all universities, i.e. we are once again No.1 in Punjab, HP, J&K and Uttarakhand. This further helped Chitkara University break into the top 10 universities in North India by being placed sixth on the rank list. Dr. Chitkara’s persistence in pursuing excellence in the field of education aided in Chitkara College of Pharmacy being ranked 17th amongst more than 500 Pharmacy Institutions in India by AICTE-MHRD – NIRF – ranking released first time by MHRD on April4,2016.

Dr. Chitkara was invited as an eminent speaker, at India’s largest education brainstorm conference – Global Educators Fest 2017, Gurugram, where she shared her valuable views through a Panel Discussion, on the topic “Higher Education Institutions incorporating skill development in their curriculum”, moderated by Price Water House Coopers (PWC).

Her eye for detail and to cater the students and faculty with the clean and green environment,helped Chitkara University attain a position among top 3 cleanest universities of India in the Swacchta Ranking 2017 by Govt. of India, MHRD. She has been instrumental in making Chitkara International

School a Green School by establishing innumerable initiatives for environmental sustainability and optimum use of facilities which are nature-friendly ranging from Rain Water Harvesting, Paper recycling, Paperless Working & Communication Mechanism among stakeholders, Waste Management System, installing energy efficient equipments, Solar Panels, solar lights and Incinerator machine.

She brought a big breakthrough with her managerial expertise to Chitkara Business School as it has been placed 64th in the rank among the top 100 B-Schools in India in recent B-School Survey 2018 by Outlook India Magazine. Also, Chitkara School of Hospitality was ranked 14t h in India’s Top Hotel Management Colleges by Outlook India Magazine. Chitkara School of Hospitality was also conferred with a certificate of Excellence in the category of Best Institute among Private affiliated Institutes by Government of India, Ministry of Tourism and National Council for Hotel Management & Catering Technology.

She has been recognized as visionary EduLeaders and Edupreneur of India by Sri. Pranab Mukherjee, the former President of India for envisioning & eventually creating a University structure whereby everybody including Deans, Administrators, Teachers & Students are empowered with right set of decision making capabilities.

Adding another bit to Dr. Chitkara’s numerous achievement is Chitkara University Institute of Engineering & Technology (CUIET) once again being ranked high in several parameters in the Top T­ Schools 2018 by the Dataquest (DQ) -CM R Survey, June 2018.

Her fluent international connect aided her presence across the globe. She was invited to the House of Lords with Anglia Ruskin University, London, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland and VC’s Meet in IYF World Camp, South Korea.

Under Dr. Chitkara’s umbrella, Chitkara University has built a formidable reputation in creating an innovative eco-system by weaving a fabric of various engineering exploration courses and programmes. Adding to it is the establishment of R&D and software engineering centre, infosight Center for Innovation in University campus.

With new fields of knowledge emerging, Dr. Madhu Chitkara ventured into the arena of patents. Chitkara University has filed 156 patents with 1000 + research publications. She has a strong preference for working towards the creation of knowledge in specific areas. She is actively creating avenues to bridge the gap between the industry and academia by incorporating more application based courses wherein both the Universities can provide the companies with students who are ready to take on the responsibilities endowed upon them. Chitkara’s education provides the foundation and specialised knowledge necessary to analyse, design and evaluate systems that are useful to the society.

Despite achieving phenomenal success in the field of education, she had a desire to do something for those who were not very privileged. Accordingly, she prevailed upon the heads of her institutions to adopt villages in the vicinity of their organizations. Villagers, mainly women were given the training to pursue vocations that could provide livelihood to them. Care was taken to ensure that the products manufactured by them found use in educational institutions. The items produced by these cottage industry level enterprises were purchased by Chitkara people thus relieving the villagers of the burden of marketing their produce. The Group under the proficient chairmanship of Dr. Madhu Chitkara has adopted nearby five villages through NSS, and provides free education to the children, and opportunities for self-employment to adults. Women are involved in stitching and fabrication of uniforms which helps them become financially self-sufficient. The Group also provides health awareness programs in addition to extending health facilities to the villagers. A computer centre has also been established in the adopted village in order to create awareness amongst the residents about the latest technology. Chitkara Radio 107.8 Fm, Chitkara University’s Community Radio has also been started and been effectively used for the upliftment of rural communities.

Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) – Language Research and Training Centre “Language Talkies – the native way” under the CLIL@ India initiative of European Union’s Erasmus + Program me was inaugurated by Dr. Madhu Chitkara on 10th November 2017 at Chitkara University, Punjab to provide a platform like a language lab to enhance the different language competencies & skills. She has also been instrumental in spearheading another prestigious Erasmus + project; OCULUS. It is a consortium of educators from optometry schools in Europe (Norway, U K, Spain and the Netherlands) with the aim to reform optometric education in Israel and India towards European standards. This will provide greater employability and job mobility for graduates, while better-trained optometrists will lead to a reduction in blindness and vision impairment. Adding to one more prestigious project; Risk Management and Prevention of Antibiotics Resistance (ABR) funded by Erasmus+ project; aims to create awareness and dissemination on increasing incidence of ABR, current scenario, associated risks and management schemes to thwart ABR to maximum population at national as well as international level by end of 2022.

She truly reflects an image of a women entrepreneur who is breaking stereotypes. It was in recognition of her excellent work in the field of education and genuine contribution to society that she was presented with the title “Women with Substance”. Dr. Chitkara was felicitated with the Jury Award during TLJ Women’s Achievers Awards 2019 ceremony hosted by The Lifestyle Journalist magazine. During the panel discussion, she shared her inspirational life story and her take on life, business and family. Through her empowering dialogue, she stunned the listeners and inspired them at the same time. She has recently received an award of honor organized by Chandigarh Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CCPCR), Department of Environment, Chandigarh Administration, State Legal Services and Authority U.T. Chandigarh during 1st Children’s Peace Fest – CPF 2019.

Her quality of steering the educational ecosystem with sheer robustness and rendering the newfangled opportunities to the students and staff, helped Chitkara University secure the award of ‘Outstanding University in India for Placement 2019’ by CEGR – Centre for Education Growth and Research; during the Inaugural Summit of Indian Education Festival. Besides this, BRICS International Forum & International Federation of Indo-Russia n Youth Clubs, jointly presented Dr Madhu Chitkara, with the ‘Award of Honour for International Digital Leaders’ during the program ‘Vision For Future- 2019. The award was presented under the aegis of Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (Govt. of India).

Moreover, Dr Madhu Chitkara was featured on the cover page of ‘Silicon india Magazine’s’ June 2019 issue; for continually empowering and unleashing the hidden potential of budding Architecture and Design experts at Chitkara School of Planning & Architecture. The Magazine has listed Chitkara University among the best Universities for Architecture Education in ‘Top 10 Most Promising Architecture Colleges’ and written a spectacular cover story highlighting Chitkara University’s vision, best practices and future plans for Chitkara School of Planning & Architecture. Apart from this, she also got featured on the cover page of ‘Higher Education Review Magazine’s’ July 2019 issue with a cover story on Chitkara University titled, ‘An epitome of excellence in the field of education’ for its contribution to building a skilful society – marching ahead with the objective of inculcating high moral, ethical and professional standards among students.

Being an articulate and eloquent speaker, Dr Madhu Chitkara addressed the august gathering of politicians, media professionals and actors on “Mahatma Gandhi’s concept of education, which is of quite a significance in the contemporary situation” during a panel discussion at Gandhi Mandela Peace Initiative organised by the Business World, Sunday Guardian Foundation and RBP Foundation. Also, was a leading speaker in one of the grand events for the School Principals on “Mind Matters A Paradigm Shift” organized by The Tribune. The session emphasised on the importance of soft skills in career life and the significance of the meditation in Schools.

Dr. Madhu Chitkara continues to be an inspiration around the world and her acumen will keep her at the pinnacle of success. She also pumped her creative juices in research papers and journals. Despite being a woman she has shown great determination and motivation to achieve her goals. Her penchant for equity and access, a desire to abide by a value system and to stick to an ethical path have enabled her to create a brand name -Chitkara -in the field of education.
The acronym of her name, M – Motherly, A – Architectural Heart, D – Dedicated Developer with a Midas Touch, H -Humane, U -Unique & Understanding and meaning of her surname Chit -(Mann in Hindi) Heart, Kara – (Karam in Hindi) Deed is self sufficient in describing her warm and enthusiastically contagious personality. She is leading a change as her progressive mind never stops hunting the needful information and opportunities to hug and execute with all openness in mind and heart. Thus, unfurling and playing a lead role in defining and determining the educational discourse.

Links:-

• South East Asia Award for being one of the most Successful Entrepreneurs by Washington School of Business
• CLIL@India initiative of Erasmus+ (European Union programme for education)
• Chitkara University bagged swachhta award and ranked third clean University
• Chitkara International School awarded one of the Top 50 Future Schools in India under the National category in Future 50 Schools Shaping Success award
• Dr. Madhu Chitkara as a panellist at TiECON Chandigarh 2018 on 9th March 2018
• The Dr. Madhu Chitkara Interview
• Dr. Madhu Chitkara, Vice-chancellor of Chitkara University Recognized as Visionary eduLEADER of India by Sri Pranab Mukherjee
• Dr. Madhu Chitkara, an eminent speaker at India’s Largest Education Brainstorm, Global Educators Fest 2017
• Chitkara University gets farsighted with Infasight for technology prowess

Under her expert guidance and leadership, CIS was chosen as a case study school by Cambridge International Examinations. She has been an invited panellist in School Leadership Summit 2015, organised by Digital Learning.

Furthermore, in recognition of her leadership qualities and path-breaking initiatives for the cause of education, the Academic Council of Science Olympiad Foundation bestowed the award of “The Best District Principal for the year 2016-17.

Her research papers on “Confidence Level in Multiple Choice Tests Leading to Increase in Reliability and Decrease in Standard Error of Measurement” and “Assessing Scholastic and Non-Scholastic Areas of Learning” were covered in the International Journal of Information Technology and Business Management and Educationia CONFAB respectively. The research done by her has been primarily in the area of school assessments.

Her papers on “Corporal Punishment” and “Future Classroom” made her a gold medalist in her Masters of Education Programme. She also submitted a dissertation on “Occupational Stress of Teachers Teaching Undergraduate Classes in Relation to their Emotional Intelligence”. Her innovative and distinct approach to providing a global platform for students made her a Bill Gates & Melinda Gates Scholar at TEDActive 2014 Conference in Canada.

Dr NiyatiChitkara has been chosen amongst “33 Young Rising Stars of Indian Education” by Education World. Leading Chitkara International School strongly on innovation and research, she is the only Principal listed out of Chandigarh and Panchkula schools on the Education World cover story. Bringing fresh energy, management expertise and inherited knowledge into today’s ever-evolving education ecosystem, Dr Chitkara has joined this elite group of young, highly-qualified and business-savvy Indian Edupreneurs (Education Entrepreneurs).

Dr Niyati has also conducted many workshops on child development. Her thoughts on school education were covered in QUEST- an initiative of The Indian Express. Print Media and Doordarshan have also covered her as the Top Shot and Young Entrepreneur of Chandigarh, respectively. She is instrumental in organising a lot of Faculty & Management Development Programmes for the school fraternity of Chandigarh, Panjab, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana in association with the Educational Leadership Centre, Chitkara University. She has organised Education Leadership Workshop for School Leaders on “Teaching makes a difference”, inviting eminent mentors from Cardiff University. A similar workshop on Teacher Leadership Skills by Max Coates from The Institute of Education, University of London, was also organised here. She was invited as one of the speakers in a panel discussion on “Levelling the Playing Field: Classroom Technology for All” at EduTech Asia 2016, Singapore. Also, she headed a 90-minutes round-table discussion on the topic: “Shaping Portfolios for the Digital Learners” at EduTech Asia 2016. Moreover, Dr Niyati Chitkara represented India in one of the International Leadership Exchange Programmes focusing on Adapting and Implementing CUL (Content and Language Integrated Learning). She represented Chitkara University in the first intra-consortium CLIL camp in Ciudad Real, Universidad de Castilla La Mancha University (UCLM), Spain. The kick-off training meeting was held for Developing Content and Language Integrated Learning – Resource and Training Centre for a multilingual India (CLIL@India under the Erasmus+ Project).

Adding another bit to Dr Niyati Chitkara’s numerous achievements is “Joining the Dots: what makes an Innovative School?” an article written by her, published by Teacher Magazine (The International Education Magazine published by ACER- Australian Council for Educational Research) in its October-December 2017 issue. It talks about the International Best Practices for students. “Digital School inside the School” is a cover Story of Digital LEARNING magazine, March 2016 issue, written by Dr Niyati Chitkara. The magazine also featured the coverage of “The Digital Education Summit” wherein CIS got awarded as one of the Best schools in India. She was also interviewed by Range Bahar, aired on Channel 107.2 FM, for her views on current educational practices.

She was invited as one of the key speakers in the panel discussion of the Indian School Awards 2018, powered by Times of India and organised by Robochamps. The convention was centred towards technology education, apt gadgets building innovative mindsets among school students and sowing the seed of entrepreneurship right from the school years of a child.

Dr Niyati Chitkara was the first one to partner with Canadian Early Childhood Development Programme in India with an intention to initiate the same at Chitkara International School. Also, for the same, she ardently participated in the teacher training workshop on early childhood programs organised by Maple Bear Education Pvt Ltd.

Under the assiduous umbrella of Dr Niyati Chitkara, CIS received accreditation from the Quality Council of India (QCI) after being assessed and found to be complying with NABET requirements as per Accreditation Standard for Quality School Governance. The Accreditation Certificate was presented to her by the Member of Parliament and CEO of NITI Aayog in the presence of more than 800 delegates. Chitkara International School has also been ranked as one of the Top 3 schools in Chandigarh City Rankings amongst “Top Schools of India–Ranking 2016” by Digital Learning.

She is fervently instrumental in setting up an Office of International Affairs at the School level and bridging it up with Chitkara University along with other universities across the globe. Currently, she is closely working with universities like Macquarie University, Australia, Vancouver Island University, Canada, Glasgow Caledonian University, Scotland and Deakin University, Australia.

India’s leading human development magazine, “Education World”, covered the standpoint of the top 40 principles and higher Ed leaders on mending Indian education. Dr Niyati Chitkara, as one of them marvellously articulated her lucid take on the contemporary Education System along with suggesting ways and means to muddle through the empirical predicament that accosts Indian Education. She also shared her thoughts and her edifying journey through an interview on “Just Candid” by Chitkara Studio. Her constant efforts and undaunted strength helped the most prominent school in Chandigarh, CIS, attain two times in a row the crown as one of the Top 50 Future Schools in India under the National category in the Future 50 Schools Shaping Success award organised by University and Fortune India. Also, CIS achieved the “School of Excellence Award” at the 5th National Conference on Teaching, learning and Leadership, organised by Brainfeed, one of the leading magazines targeting the entire education system. The school was awarded for best-implementing PBL, infrastructure, innovative practices and influential brand school. She undertook many outreach programmes to help the community and sensitise students and teachers towards addressing issues concerning community development. She has also been a part of the student exchange programmes with Government Schools, Dhanas and various health programmes initiated in nearby government schools to spread awareness about health and hygiene. Moreover, another felicitation on CIS was the district-level Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar 2017 by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, under the initiative “Swachh Bharat Swachh Vidyalaya” (SBSV). Member of the Lok Sabha and Indian actress Kirron Kher accorded this award to Dr Niyati Chitkara. Recently she brought a big breakthrough for Chitkara International School, as through her constant hard work, the school entered into the coveted League of Futuristic Schools of India 2018. Also, it got the “Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Acclamation” by ReTHINK INDIA for Internationalisation of India’s Education 2018 and the Sir C V Raman Award for Applied Physics by ReTHINK INDIA for best Learning Ambience, deemed possible because of the efforts of Dr Niyati Chitkara.

education by Rethink India. For incredible contributions to the field of education, Dr Chitkara also received the title of “Progressive Principal of India” by Rethink India. It is a pan India award conferred on Principals who are Progressive and have Innovative ideas at the core of the heart. Dr Chitkara has always made every endeavour to devise the educational framework of the school that suffices the appetite of students in the most creative way possible. It is because of her exemplary contribution and attributes like such that she was invited to a panel discussion at The IDA Connect Conference as a panellist among other notable members from institutions like IBM, Robomate, Shelford Group of Schools etc. The theme of the conference was ‘Education 4.0: Reimagining & Transforming Learning Environments’. The discussion centred on various topics like curriculum and what the students learn, innovative pedagogies and how learners are taught. Dr Chitkara remarkably expressed her point across and carved a niche of progressive disposition.

Her constant focus on investing in the future of children through programmes that deck them with skills and tools directed CIS to fetch applauses for its best practice of “wining model- sharing of resources on environment and value culture” by Chandigarh Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CCPCR). Under her aegis, CIS was also titled among India’s Best 10 International Schools for 2018 by Knowledge Review Magazine in its October Issue.

Being an articulate and eloquent speaker, Dr Niyati Chitkara addressed more than 175 international delegates from 18 different countries on the topic “Transformation in Education: Vision 2030” at International School Awards (ISA) 2018 ceremony and conference held in Dubai, UAE. She also enlightened more than 200 international delegates from 12 different countries through her views on the topic “Teachers and School Education” at International School Awards (ISA) 2019 ceremony and conference held at Chitkara University, Punjab Campus. Apart from this, she got featured in business sight magazine’s July issue and Chitkara International School as one of the most trusted educational institutes of the year 2019.

Dr Chitkara’s efforts in developing intercultural international education were also recognised by venerated British Council, and Chitkara International School was thus accredited with International School Award 2019-2021 for “Outstanding Development of International Dimension in the Curriculum”.

Dr Niyati Chitkara was also one of the dignitaries who graced the occasion when His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama was presented with an Honorary Doctorate, Doctor of Literature (D.Litt.) Honoris Causa, by Chitkara University (CU), in honour of his unparalleled and invaluable contribution to Humanity, World Peace and Education, and in recognition of his outstanding achievements in promoting peace globally and for inspirational spiritual guidance and leadership. Other dignitaries & senior officials present at the occasion included Dr Ashok K Chitkara, Chancellor (CU), Dr Madhu Chitkara, Vice-Chancellor (CU), Ms Mia Yen, Canada’s Consul General in Chandigarh; Mr Kumar Anil, IAS, DC-Patiala; Ms Nazuk Kumar, SDM (Central) Chandigarh Administration; International Delegates; and Senior Government Officials from UT & Punjab.

Dr Niyati Chitkara is the most scrupulous leader as it is under her tutelage that every day thousands of minds are inspired and educated. Thus, it is in honour of this distinction that she was bestowed with the title “Principal Par Excellence” by the leading International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM).

Supporting her empowered leadership, one of the milestones achieved by her school was getting acknowledged by the Department of Education Chandigarh (U.T.) in association with PGIMER, Chandigarh and the Indian Council of Medical Research under the School Health Accreditation Project (SHAP). After the rigorous assessment of 460 government and private schools by the team of assessors, Chitkara International School was found to be in the category of ‘Platinum'(platinum being the highest).

Dr Chitkara’s steadfast approach towards the progress of her school and her consistent efforts to provide the best education and learning opportunities to the 21st-century learner caught her certificate of appreciation conferred by the prestigious and leading organisation Education Today. The award was to highlight the top 50 effective principals of the year 2019 for their exemplary contribution to the field of education. Dr Niyati Chitkara was also one of the esteemed panellists who movingly spoke on the topic of “Online Schooling or Online Learning” organised by Education Today magazine and published by Education News Network.

Calling attention to the major tectonic shift undergone by the education sector, amid COVID-19, The Indian Express interviewed honourable Dr Niyati Chitkara to know about the solutions adopted by her to help tide over the challenge of the pandemic. Voicing her opinion on the same, she asserted that multi-model learning and hybrid teaching are the new faces of education.

Besides this, the prestigious Mother Teresa Foundation Award was also conferred on Dr Chitkara for her selfless & outstanding contributions to Education, Social Welfare & Humanity in the times of COVID-19. She was chosen as one of the “Top 40 Young Leaders in the Field of Education” and further honoured with Business World Education “40 under 40” 2020 award. The award was bestowed in recognition of her unique ideas and expeditious implementation of those ideas for better and more beneficial results.

Dr Chitkara, an eloquent speaker, touched upon certain areas that need quick addressing. In the shadow of this, an enlightening talk on “Parenting as an Art” was held, which discussed the colossal importance of parenting for the harmonious growth of a child with an eminent jurist, Ramesh Chandra Lahoti, Former Chief Justice of India. She also hosted a session on “Learner’s Perspective- a narrative from an Artist Extraordinaire”, discussing the insightful bits instrumental in expanding the capabilities of prospective teachers and in-service teachers with celebrated actor Mr Boman Irani. Besides this, Dr Chitkara opined her profound thoughts on the extant state of affairs and the role of a novel educational environment in the teaching-learning processes in the highly prestigious Elets talk. Showcasing her remarkable speaking skills & innovative ideas, she also addressed the audience of FICCI- FRAMES-LEAPS, the largest online summit on education and skilling in the Media & Entertainment sectors held in 2020.

ASMA (Adoption of Social Media in Academia), the leading global community of Academia, organised a very interesting Panel Discussion on “NEP: Implementation and Future Challenges” during the ASMA School Leadership Conclave with an exciting theme of “How Technology and Innovation Are Transforming India’s School Education” wherein Dr NiyatiChitkara addressed nationwide School Leaders. Besides this, to deliberate on the Changes & Impact and Implementation of NEP 2020 in School Education, Dr Chitkara also actively became a part of another Webinar organised by ASSOCHAM on” Decoding of National Education Policy 2020- Changes and Impact in School Education”.

Touching on “International Competitiveness, Global Curriculum Standards, Education as an Industry and Investments, and Ease of Doing Business”, Dr NiyatiChitkara addressed nationwide School Leaders as an Eminent Speaker in “Global Education & Skill Virtual Conclave” organised by the Government of Telangana in association with APAC News Network.

Apart from this, Dr Chitkara also shared her valuable thoughts on “How Technology and Innovation are Transforming India’s School Education” during the ASMA School Leadership Conclave organised by ASMA (Adoption of social media in Academia). Besides this, Education World and Edu Start, in association with Zamit organised a visionary talk on “Education Implementation – Progressive Punjab”, wherein Dr NiyatiChitkara poured in her valuable thoughts on “Evolving the Perfect Blended Learning Model”.

To give students of grades 9-12 some highly helpful tips & strategies for Exam preparation, Chitkara International School, in collaboration with Mindler organised an engaging webinar wherein Dr Chitkara steered the session in association with MrPrikshitDhanda, India’s leading life coach; Director & Chief Career Coach, Mindler. Dr NiyatiChitkara also appeared as the eminent Guest Speaker at the informative session named “Creating a Thinking Classroom (K-12)” organised by TCS iON Direct Channel.

Under the astute tutelage of Dr Niyati Chitkara, Chitkara International School’s longstanding commitment towards making a positive difference in the lives of its students has certainly been the driving force behind its groundbreaking mechanisms and highly distinct curriculum. Through its reversed yet remarkable “PhD to Playway” learning model, the school has not only carved a niche for itself as a quality educational institution but has also ensured the success of its students at the school level and beyond that. In light of the same, the school’s unstinted efforts towards the cause of student development have been well-acknowledged and appreciated by the supremely renowned educational website – Education World, as the organisation has published a well-expressed article on the school’s “Reverse Gamut of Education” on its website.

Dr Niyati Chitkara joined the distinguished “School Leaders Roundtable” to present her well-thought-out solutions for ensuring uninterrupted progress of the K-12 Education Fraternity amidst COVID-19. An initiative of ScooNews Magazine, the School Leaders Roundtable witnessed the esteemed presence of some of the nation’s eminent educational leaders, including Dr Chitkara, teaming up to deliberate on ways to elevate the present-day scenario of the educational setup. Also, being the percipient educator, Dr Chitkara shared her thoughts on the topic “Significance of Emerging Technologies in School Education” in the SchoolTech Innovation Conclave organised by APAC News Network.

Owing to Dr Chitkara’s commitment towards school education, the Panchkula campus of Chitkara International School became the proud recipient of the prestigious “Certificate of Recognition” bestowed upon it at the 19th World Education Summit by Elets Technomedia Pvt. Ltd. for its exemplary contribution to the education sector and functional innovation in pedagogical practices.

Dr Chitkara manifested her outlook on the contemporary education system of India in a conversation with Mr Brijesh Karia, Chief Operating Officer, Singhania Education Services Ltd. In this enthralling talk with Quest+ Ed Talks, she meticulously articulated her standpoint on schooling and its various aspects. Analogizing with the National Education Policy of 2020, she further scrupulously elaborated on each stage of the learning process in terms of “INPUT” which is the stage of nurturing and nourishing; “PROCESSING” which is the stage of absorption and “OUTPUT” which is the stage of career orientation.

Besides this, Dr Chitkara shared her vivifying propositions in an instructive conference on the theme “School Education- Going Forward” organised by SCHOOLPAD in collaboration with The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), Chandigarh.

With faiths reposed in the power of conviction, innovation and farsighted ideas, Dr Niyati Chitkara has treaded a good many paths of progress & development over the enriching years of her humble journey. Apropos the same, CIS has been bestowed the prestigious Certificate of Recognition by the August Ardor Comm Media Group and Jabra GN for manifesting Excellence in Student Outreach, Engagement and Digital Innovation in the year 2021. Representing the organization amid the dignified gathering at the New Normal Education Leadership Summit & Awards 2021, Dr Niyati Chitkara fervidly restated the ethos of the school and further thanked the school stakeholders for their invaluable yet crucial support and cooperation over the years.

Dr Chitkara’s persistent efforts towards the edification of the society were acknowledged by the Chandigarh Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CCPCR) for the school was conferred with the prestigious “Mass Outreach Programme” Award for its 10th virtual annual event titled “Mosaic Being Arty” which exhibited the significance of various art forms during Renaissance, Neoclassicism, Cubism, Impressionism and the Contemporary period through comical acts, dance performances and singing shows.

Furthermore, Dr Chitkara stated her remarkable standpoint on the future of education by introducing the “Use of Technology in the Classrooms Preparing Children for the More Dynamic Society” during the EDUREFORM Inaugural Event hosted by Chitkara University. Therein, she shared the stage with Syed Sultan Ahmed, a Social Entrepreneur.

For Dr Chitkara’s persistent dedication towards the inclusion of futuristic practices, Education World India awarded Chitkara International School, Chandigarh the prestigious “Education World India School Grand Jury Awards 2021-22″, the world’s largest and most in-depth school ratings and rankings survey based on field interviews with more than 11,458 knowledgeable stakeholders in school education countrywide. Moreover, the school ranked India 5th and Chandigarh 1st in “Extraordinary Leadership” by the Education World India School Rankings (EWISR).

Under the guidance of Dr Chitkara and her vision to augment scientific curiosity and temperament in the young and avid learners, Chitkara International School launched a research project to encourage tie-ups between the faculty and student in collaboration with Chitkara University, Himachal Pradesh. Therein, around 12 to 14 teams have been formed from both institutions to work on the collaborative research initiative.

Dr Niyati Chitkara, Director, Chitkara International School, in furtherance of her vision and mission, brought forth her thought-provoking standpoint on the contemporary education system in an enlightening and all-inclusive session “Pedagogical Brew with Dr Niyati Chitkara”. The said session was organised under EDUREFORM, which is co-founded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union. Dr Chitkara promulgated her revolutionising ways pertaining to pedagogy that can help educators impart futuristic skills to Generation Z and Generation Alpha.

The sagacious Director, Dr Chitkara illustrated how by her judicious dispensation of knowledge, she has gained momentous success in all her endeavours by staying committed and her passion towards school education in the “Pedagogical Brew with Dr Niyati Chitkara”, conducted under the remarkable EDUREFORM Project, which has been co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union which indeed served fresh & ready to the learning enthusiasts from across the world. Herein, she apprised the viewers of CIS’s in-house pedagogical tool, “Multi-perspective Teaching”, which emphasises catering to the needs of students with different perspectives and intelligence through the truly exciting co-curricular squads. The excellent mix of the “concept breakdown” board, aesthetically pleasing artworks, morse code resonances, and notable dance and music performances was applauded unreservedly by the inspired audience.

Additionally, Dr Chitkara was conferred with the outstanding “Certificate of Achievement” at the overarching event viz. “Chitkara Awards for Trailblazers supporting Womanhood” hosted by Chitkara University. Unquestionably, she has a high-powered vision and has persistently supported to uplift the women in the society as well as empowering them.

More so, Dr Niyati Chitkara, articulated her outstanding standpoint in an all-embracing panel discussion viz. “EDUTHON 2022”, hosted by “TRINITi – Scaling New Heights”, a specialist school that provides learning blended with creativity and innovation in order to create proficient leaders for tomorrow.

Not to mention, Dr Chitkara joined the distinguished Programme viz. “PHDCCI Education Summit 2022, NEP 2020: The Story Ahead”, and presented her well-thought-out views on the principles of quality assurance in education system and accreditation to the school by NABET. The said programme was held in Lakshmipat Singhania Auditorium, PHD House, New Delhi”.

Besides this, she brought forth her notable outlook on the significance of futuristic and innovative pedagogies that are vital for the holistic development of the present-day generation by sharing her viewpoint on the contemporary education system as a keynote speaker, in an illuminating and engrossing event, being hosted by International School Awards in association with Chitkara University.

Undoubtedly, Dr Niyati Chitkara is a dedicated member of the education sector and has been recognised time and again for her innovative and dynamic thinking. Her efforts have helped enhance the level of teaching that benefits students, and she has induced positive changes through her meritorious endeavours.

It is indeed a result of her devoted efforts that Chitkara International School was ranked 2nd among Co-Ed Day Schools by Education World Rankings 2022-23. This is a testament to the hard work and commitment of Dr Chitkara and her team to provide an environment that fosters growth and development in students.

In recognition of her contributions, Dr Chitkara was awarded the Gen Emissary Certificate for being a member of the Galaxy of Celebrating Visionaries, Educators, and National Builders who support Project Carte Blanche. This is a prestigious honour, and it reflects the hard work and dedication that Dr Chitkara has put into her work.

Dr Chitkara’s expertise and insights on education have been acknowledged by various media outlets as well. In light of the same, she shared her views on “Benchmarking Reading and Numeracy Skills Post Covid-19” on CNBC AWAAZ TV Channel. Her valuable insights have helped shape the discourse around education and the impact of the pandemic on students’ learning outcomes.

In addition to her achievements in school management and education, Dr Niyati Chitkara has also been actively involved in promoting the mental health and well-being of students. Her expertise on the “Role & Responsibilities of Counsellors” was showcased in the training programme for Government School Counsellors organised by the Chandigarh Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CCPCR).

Dr Chitkara has always been at the forefront of innovative ideas and forward-thinking in education. Her thought-provoking ideas were put forth in the Eduthon 2.0 presented by TRINITi, where she shared her insights on possible future advancements in education and discussed their goals and implementation strategies. Her incredible stances highlighted the need for personalised learning, digital literacy, and the importance of a strong school-community partnership.

Furthermore, she was awarded the prestigious Global Edu Icon award by the Global School Leaders Consortium at the Global Edu Icons of the year 2022-23 Rendezvous with Excellence Personified.

Dr Chitkara also graced the cover of BW Education Magazine’s March 2023 edition, where she highlighted the school’s focus on experiential learning, creative thinking, and character-building that helps students become lifelong learners and responsible global citizens.

Moreover, her participation in the panel discussion on “Computational Thinking (NEP2020) Opportunities and Challenges”, presented by EU Media & CED and supported by the Ministry of Ayush, highlighted her commitment to exploring innovative ideas in education.

Additionally, Dr Chitkara’s address at the Leadership Summit 2023 by BW Education further shows her dedication to sharing her expertise with fellow educators and leaders in the field.

Dr Niyati Chitkara was also invited to share her views at the Leadership Summit 2023, helmed by BW Education. As a strong believer in developing a learner-centred approach and a positive learning environment in classrooms, Dr Chitkara, through her dynamic thinking, has long helped enhance the level of teaching that is to students’ benefit and induced positive changes through her meritorious endeavours.

Adding another feather to her cap, Dr Chitkara was interviewed by Zee-Punjab, Haryana and Himachal, in their segment called “Mahapurkh,” which highlights the exceptional work done by legendary personalities across various fields. During the interview, Dr Chitkara shared her insights on the environment in classrooms, highlighting the importance of creating a conducive learning atmosphere that fosters growth and development in students.

Ascertaining her commitment to sustainable development, Dr Chitkara, as the dynamic director of Chitkara International School, signed an MoU with The Climate Project Foundation. Dr Chitkara believes that reaching climate targets will depend on several different approaches and solutions, with everyone working together.

Dr Chitkara’s expertise in the field of mental health is also noteworthy. She shared her outstanding views on the importance of sound mental health through her article, “The Heart to Heart Trajectory,” published in ScooNews Magazine. Her article emphasises the need for a holistic approach to mental health and the importance of addressing mental health concerns in schools.

Not to mention, once again, affirming her dedication to sustainable development, Dr Chitkara signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development in Chandigarh.

These achievements indeed speak volume of her commitment and her passion for school education and illustrates how by her judicious dispensation of knowledge, she has gained momentous success in all her endeavours.

Hereunder are a few of the links highlighting the achievements of Dr Niyati Chitkara:

Links

• Panel member – Indian School Awards 2018 powered by Times of India and organiSed by Robochamps.
• Article by Dr Niyati Chitkara on “Joining the dots – what makes an innovative school?”
• Education world chooses Dr Niyati Chitkara among 33 young rising educationists of India.
• Educated Approach covered by The Tribune
• Interview of Dr Niyati Chitkara in Range Bahar aired on channel 107.2 FM
• Interview of Dr Niyati Chitkara – TED Active 2014
• Dr Niyati Chitkara – Panelist in School Leadership Summit 2015
• Dr Niyati Chitkara at (CAER) International Conference
• Buddy teaching with Dr Niyati Chitkara
• Research paper by Dr Niyati Chitkara
• Assessment Quotient – A book written by Dr Niyati Chitkara
• QCI Accreditation & Certification
• Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar received by Dr Niyati Chitkara
• Dr Niyati Chitkara shares her views on personalised learning
• Dr Niyati Chitkara – Speaker (Indian School Award)
• Chitkara International School ensures best practices
• Chitkara International School Secured Platinum Rank
• Dr Niyati Chitkara received the Top 50 Principal Award
• Chitkara International School – BS Most Trusted Educational Institutes of the Year 2019
• Dr Chitkara was bestowed with the title Principal Par Excellence’ by the International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM)
• Consumer Adda with Dr. Niyati Chitkara – CNBC AWAAZ TV
• Dr Niyati Chitkara’s Heart to Heart Trajectory article published by ScooNews Magazine