Dr. Hafeez Basha, a distinguished academician and eminent scientist, has officially taken on the role of Advisor to the Government of Telangana for Skill Development. In this capacity, he will be liaisoning with Mr. Sunkireddy Raghavendra Reddy, the newly appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Telangana Academy for Skill and Knowledge (TASK), the state’s dedicated Skill Development Agency operating under the Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communication (ITE&C), Government of Telangana. In the initial phase of his appointment, Dr. Basha will provide guidance to Mrs. M. A. Sravanthi, Cluster Manager for the crucial districts of Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Mahaboob Nagar, and Medchal. TASK aims to forge partnerships with public state universities across Telangana, including Osmania University, Palamuru University, and Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Hyderabad (JNTUH), to integrate essential skill courses into their academic curricula. Notably, these courses may also offer academic credits, enhancing the employability of students. This is in addition to the New India Skill University established by the Government of Telangana which is an initiative of Chief Minister Mr. Anumula Revanth Reddy where all the Polytechnic Colleges, Advanced Technology Centres (ATCs), and Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) of Telangana shall be brought under the umbrella of Skill University.
Dr. Basha’s extensive background includes serving as the Institute Management Committee (IMC) Member at the National Skill Training Institute (NSTI) in Hyderabad and as Coordinator at the National Instructional Media Institute (NIMI), both under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) of the Government of India. He has also held pivotal roles as an Advisor and Empanelled Mentor at various initiatives, including the Entrepreneurship Development Centre (EDC), Office of the Development Commissioner, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME); Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs), Atal Incubation Centres (AICs) and Atal Community Innovation Centres (ACICs) at the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), National Institution for Transforming India (NITI-Aayog) i.e. erstwhile Planning Commission of India; Member – National Rural Entrepreneurship Mission, Mahatma Gandhi National Council of Rural Education; Advisor – National Educational Alliance for Technology (NEAT), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), Ministry of Education, Government of India. Advisor – Engineering Staff College of India (ESCI), Institution of Engineers (IE-India); Mentor – TN RISE Women Startup Council, Government of Tamil Nadu (funded by World Bank under Tamil Nadu Rural Transformation Mission i.e. Vazhndhu Kattuvom Project).
Dr. Basha’s journey began with a remarkable personal transformation where he embarked on his journey as a researcher, presenting papers during his B. Tech and winning prizes in every symposium he attended. He was instrumental in setting-up IEEE Student Branch at his college and organized a national level seminar with support from IEEE Hyderabad Section. This early recognition led to a position as Research Engineer Trainee at Pentagram Research Centre Pvt. Ltd., where he also served as Secretary for International Conference on Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics (ICSCI-2007). His final year project on Waste-to-Energy at the Global Renewable Energy Research Institute, SELCO International Ltd., India’s first-of-its-kind thermal power plant, marked a turning point and laid the groundwork for his Ph. D. research. In addition to his academic pursuits, Dr. Basha co-founded the Cafet-Innova Technical Society with his classmates, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting students in their research endeavors. This initiative has significantly benefited numerous research scholars, many of whom have successfully attained their Ph. D. degrees. Building on his extensive experience, Dr. Basha later established Basha Research Corporation (BRCORP), an R&D consultancy firm headquartered in Singapore, with a presence in over eight countries.
He started his corporate career upon graduation as GIS Engineer at Satyam Computers, working on NAVTEQ projects of NOKIA Corporation. Later while serving as Research Analyst at Thomson Reuters he was sponsored for higher education i.e. M. Tech through their ‘Learn While You Earn’ program. He was the recipient of ‘Young Scientist Award’ for his research outcomes and journal publications while pursuing his masters. Subsequently, he was awarded the prestigious ‘Monbukagakusho Scholarship’ by the Japanese Government to pursue his Ph. D at Kumamoto University, Japan where he even received the ‘Dean’s Award for Research Excellence’ at his convocation. He also holds the track-record of receiving highest funding especially in the form of travel grants, thereby completing Summer School at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, Vietnam and Winter School from Blaise Pascal University, France. He visited 13+ countries without spending any money from his pocket within the first ten years of his illustrious career. Upon returning to India, he emerged as Dean / Director at Engineering Colleges and Business Schools accomplishing himself as a prominent Academic Leader. He was even invited by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) as Advisor at their Engineering Reforms Section and Expert to prepare prelims question papers for Civil Services Examinations.
In his second decade, Dr. Basha transitioned from R&D to playing a significant role in fostering innovation and promoting entrepreneurship. He championed the integration of startups & incubators within academic institutions to cultivate a nurturing environment, mentorship & resources for empowering students, faculty and alumni to become entrepreneurs. He spearheaded as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Technology Business Incubator (TBI) of Chandigarh University and later Osmania University. He was invited by 130+ reputed institutions, including IITs, NITs, and BITS Pilani, to deliver Talks on ‘Employability & Entrepreneurship,’ that has inspired thousands of students to choose their right career paths. His work garnered extensive media coverage, with over 200+ newspaper articles, television news channels and other media platforms highlighting his contributions to the society. His inspiring journey was documented by Mr. Venu K. Kodimela, a notable journalist and former senior sub-editor of Deccan Chronicle, in the biography: ‘CHASER – On a Journey of Transformation’, that was published in 2022 by uLektz Books with ISBN 978-81-954226-1-6. This story is now being adapted into a feature film by leading cinema industry under the direction of Mr. Ssharadh Chandra Tadimeti, who is also a writer and producer. An extended biography, ‘CHASER 2 – On a Journey of Inspiration’ is currently being written by Mr. Amit Kapoor, Senior Director – Content & Social Media Marketing, Cigniti Technologies Ltd. (now Coforge), and is expected to be launched in December 2024. This sequel will highlight the success stories of some of his mentees who have achieved early success under his guidance. This multi-starrer project is being planned to become web series on OTT platforms.
With his dedication to skill development and entrepreneurship, Dr. Basha is poised to play a crucial role in equipping the youth of Telangana with the skills needed to excel in a rapidly evolving job market. His extensive experience and innovative approach will help bridge the gap between education and industry, ensuring that students not only gain theoretical knowledge but also practical skills that are highly sought after by employers. By fostering partnerships between universities and industry, Dr. Basha aims to create a robust ecosystem that encourages entrepreneurship and innovation, empowering students to become job creators rather than just job seekers. Moreover, his initiatives are expected to enhance the overall quality of education in Telangana, making it more relevant to current market demands. Through programs that integrate skill courses into academic curricula and provide academic credits, he will help students become more employable and adaptable to changing industry trends. Dr. Basha’s vision includes not just improving individual career prospects but also contributing to the economic growth of the state by nurturing a skilled workforce capable of driving innovation and development across various sectors. His leadership in this endeavor is essential for shaping a dynamic and resilient future for the youth of Telangana.
