Dr. (Col.) Rashmi Mittal | Lovely Professional University
“In my opinion, legacious leadership is defined by how easily your people connect with you. I wish to be remembered as a nurturing tree—someone to whom people come because they truly feel I can add value to their lives.”
Lovely Professional University is one of India’s most prestigious and renowned educational institutions with a marvelous history of quality education. The university fosters an environment where academic excellence, innovation, and practical learning go hand in hand. Blending modern facilities with inclusive policies and a commitment to pushing boundaries makes LPU an attraction for students all across the country.
To bring forward the luminosity of LPU’s education standards with complete authenticity and integrity, we invited the dignitary visionary Dr. (Col.) Rashmi Mittal, Pro-Chancellor at LPU, for an interactive one-to-one discussion. Her leadership has always been grounded in the present— not resting on past laurels.
With questions like, “What more can we do?” and “How can we do it better?’ always running in her leadership mindset. Whether it’s a student, a faculty member, or staff— she truly believes in taking everybody along, making sure people feel heard and valued. Well, that is only an excerpt of our full-fledged conversation with Dr. (Col.) Rashmi Mittal. To know more about her principles as a leader, WE HAVE CRAFTED THIS INSPIRING READ FOR OUR READERS.
Tycoon Insights: Greetings, Dr. (Col.) Rashmi Mittal. To begin with, we would like to extend our warm welcome. Thank you for taking your valuable time and joining us for this interview. The first question out of our curiosity box is to know in detail about the entire journey of LPU, from its inception to its founding values, etc.
Thank you for your warm welcoming words. Even I am thrilled to discuss LPU’s journey, as it has been a long, challenging, and beautiful one. Established in 2005 by the Lovely International Trust and operational since 2006, Lovely Professional University is one of India’s largest and most prestigious private universities. In a short span of time, it has quickly emerged as a hub of academic excellence. It offers a wide range of undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs across various disciplines and is recognized by major regulatory bodies. Over the years, the university has achieved significant milestones, including NBA accreditation for MBA and B.Tech UG programs, Category 1 graded autonomy by UGC, ICAR accreditation for its agricultural programs, NAAC A++ status, and global recognition through Times Higher Education Impact Rankings. Notably, 13 of its students represented India at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, winning multiple medals. LPU has traveled a remarkable path of growth and achievement, but there’s still much more to accomplish, as the possibilities here are limitless.
Tycoon Insights: What are the core values and mission that guide LPU towards success?
Our mission focuses on transforming education through academic rigor, practical learning, industry collaboration, and impactful research that addresses global and local challenges. The university is committed to preparing students to be innovative, globally competent professionals and lifelong learners with strong leadership and analytical skills. At the heart of its success are core values such as respect for diversity, freedom of thought and expression, integrity, accountability, and an unwavering pursuit of excellence. Together, these principles foster a culture of inclusivity, innovation, and social responsibility, propelling it toward its vision of becoming a globally recognized academic institution.
Tycoon Insights: How has your leadership ideology shaped the path of LPU to become a center of excellence and innovation?
I started my journey as a lecturer, and over time, I transitioned into the role of Pro-Chancellor. But no matter what position I’ve held, my goal has always been the same: to create an environment where academic excellence, innovation, and practical learning go hand in hand. From day one, I wanted students to feel like they weren’t just here to study but to grow—in every sense. So I’ve worked hard to build what I call a ‘home away from home’—a vibrant, welcoming campus culture that supports students emotionally, socially, and academically. We’ve focused a lot on blending modern facilities with inclusive policies, and that’s played a big part in attracting a diverse group of students from across India and all over the world. But what really sets us apart, I believe, is our commitment to pushing boundaries—whether that’s through cutting-edge research, hands-on industry collaboration, or nurturing young entrepreneurs through our incubation centers. Excellence and innovation aren’t just buzzwords for us—they’re embedded into everything we do. And as we continue to grow, my focus remains on delivering quality education while empowering students and faculty to make a real impact.
Tycoon Insights: What are the action plans that are being followed to maintain a culture of academic brilliance, creativity, and industry readiness among students?
Here, we believe that academic brilliance, creativity, and industry readiness must go hand in hand to truly empower our students. We foster this culture by blending rigorous academics with experiential learning, encouraging students to think beyond textbooks and apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios. Our curriculum is designed to be flexible and interdisciplinary, allowing students to choose from a wide range of electives and industry-focused courses. Through initiatives like the Education Revolution program, we give students the freedom to shape their learning paths. We also have strong collaborations with global universities and leading industries to provide exposure, internships, and live projects. Innovation is embedded in our ecosystem through hackathons, startup support, and research opportunities. Most importantly, we promote a mindset of continuous learning and curiosity, ensuring that our students are not just job-ready but future-ready.
Tycoon Insights: What groundbreaking initiatives have you introduced to bridge the gap between academia and real-world challenges?
We have introduced transformative initiatives to effectively bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world challenges, with our flagship programs EduRevolution and Gamification leading the way. EduRevolution redefines traditional education by placing students at the center of their learning journey—empowering them to choose what they want to study, how they want to study it, and at a pace that suits them. This fosters a highly personalized, flexible, and engaging academic environment. In parallel, our gamification strategy brings learning to life by incorporating interactive game-based elements into the curriculum. This not only enhances student participation and motivation but also sharpens critical thinking and problem-solving skills, making the learning process both effective and enjoyable. These innovative approaches ensure our students are not just academically strong but also industry-ready and future-focused.
Tycoon Insights: Can you highlight a transformative project that has redefined the university’s impact on society?
One of the most transformative initiatives has been the EduRevolution policy, which truly redefines how we empower our students. What makes it unique is that it places students at the center—not just as learners, but as leaders. Many of our student organizations are entirely student-led, with students serving as chairpersons and decision-makers, giving them a real sense of ownership and responsibility. Through our ‘Earn While You Learn’ model, we also give students the opportunity to gain practical experience and financial independence while pursuing their education. This hands-on, student-driven approach has nurtured confidence, leadership, and a strong sense of purpose. Beyond academics, our students actively engage in community development, social impact projects, and even launch startups aimed at solving real societal challenges. It’s this culture of empowerment and real-world engagement that’s making a lasting difference—not just on campus, but far beyond it.
Tycoon Insights: What steps have you taken to make education more inclusive, accessible, and future-ready?
We’ve always believed that quality education should be a right, not a privilege, and we’ve taken several meaningful steps to make that belief a reality. We offer a wide range of scholarships and financial aid programs to ensure that students from all economic backgrounds can pursue their dreams without financial barriers. Our campus is a vibrant hub of diversity, welcoming students from every part of India and over 50 countries, which creates an incredibly rich and inclusive learning environment. We’re also constantly updating our curriculum to include future-focused fields like AI, data science, sustainability, and entrepreneurship. With strong industry partnerships and practical learning opportunities, we’re preparing our students not just for jobs, but for the challenges and innovations of tomorrow.
We actively support research through funding, mentorship, and advanced lab facilities.
while also encouraging students to publish and innovate, even filing patents. On the entrepreneurship front, our Incubation Center and E-Cell guide students from idea to execution, helping them pitch to real investors. But what truly sets us apart is the vibrant student life we offer—our Division of Student Welfare (DSW) oversees more than 100 student clubs and committees, all of which are student-driven.
From organizing cultural events to leading social initiatives, students take the lead, gaining hands-on leadership experience. These platforms, combined with community service, hackathons, international programs, and close industry interactions, give our students the confidence and skills to think independently, lead effectively, and create real-world impact.
Tycoon Insights: How do you see universities evolving in the next decade, and what role will your institution play?
In the next decade, I envision universities evolving into dynamic, tech-driven ecosystems that blend academic excellence with social responsibility, innovation, and global collaboration. Education will become more personalized, interdisciplinary, and skills-oriented, with a stronger focus on sustainability, digital fluency, and lifelong learning. In the university, we are already moving in this direction through initiatives like EduRevolution, gamified learning, and industry-integrated curricula. We aim to play a leading role in shaping this transformation by continuing to empower students with flexible, future-ready education and fostering a strong research and entrepreneurial culture. Our focus will remain on producing not just graduates, but global citizens and changemakers who are prepared to address the complex challenges of tomorrow. As the boundaries between education, technology, and the real world blur, LPU will continue to lead from the front—innovating, adapting, and setting new benchmarks in higher education.
Tycoon Insights: What’s your ultimate vision for the university, and how do you plan to make it a reality?
My ultimate vision for LPU is to ensure that every student has the opportunity to earn the career of their dreams. No matter what their aspirations are, we want to provide them with a clear path to achieve those goals. The institution aims to provide the strength from within— empowering them with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to succeed—while also applying the right amount of pressure from outside, challenging them to rise to their potential and become beautiful, impactful leaders in their respective fields. Our focus is on transforming dreams into reality by creating an environment where every student feels equipped to carve their own path to success.
