Director – Distance & Online Education | Higher Ed & EdTech Leader | UGC-DEB Compliance | Digital Transformation
Dr. Santosh Jha is a higher education leader with over two decades of experience driving digital transformation, regulatory compliance, and large-scale academic innovation across leading Indian universities and edtech organizations. He currently serves as Director – Centre for Distance and Online Education at Galgotias University, where he leads online and distance learning initiatives spanning program design, UGC-DEB/AICTE compliance, content development, faculty hiring, and technology deployment.
Throughout his career, Dr. Jha has focused on building future-ready institutions that combine academic rigor with scalable delivery models. He has successfully launched and secured approvals for more than 20 online and distance learning programs, achieved double-digit enrollment growth year-on-year, and integrated advanced LMS platforms and AI-enabled proctoring systems in full compliance with UGC guidelines. At Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, he established the School of Allied Sciences and fostered strong industry-academic partnerships, while at SRM Group he spearheaded the development of industry-integrated MBA and vocational programs that blended curriculum innovation with employability outcomes.
Beyond academics, Dr. Jha has proven expertise in sales, marketing, and business development. At Times Centre for Learning (Bennett Coleman), he led national P&L operations, designed new B-School programs, and pioneered the “Continuous Engagement Model” for student acquisition. His earlier work at Harvard Business School Publishing played a pivotal role in shaping India’s case-teaching ecosystem by collaborating with 100+ institutions and designing faculty development programs that scaled case-based pedagogy.
Dr. Jha thrives at the intersection of academia, industry, and technology - aligning regulatory requirements with institutional growth goals, building cross-functional teams, and delivering measurable impact. His leadership philosophy blends innovation with pragmatism: creating compliant, high-quality academic ecosystems that also scale commercially and build institutional brand value.
He is particularly passionate about leveraging online education, vocational training, and skill development to expand access to quality learning in India and globally. His current focus is on strengthening Galgotias University’s digital footprint, advancing employability-oriented programs, and contributing to India’s vision under NEP 2020 and the National Credit Framework.
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