In an era when the built environment is being asked to do more to address social, environmental, and technological challenges, architecture education needs to move beyond traditional pedagogy. It needs to produce leaders who can bridge design aspiration and real-world obligations, leaders who can grow talented professionals and responsible changemakers.
With an unshakeable commitment to developing architectural practice and education, Dr. Prof. Anand Achari personifies the role of a visionary leader who combines ethical strictness with innovative teaching.
Under his mentorship, institutions turn into nurseries of creativity and social conscience that prepare future generations of architects to meet the complex challenges facing the globe with compassion and skill.
Dr. Anand began his leadership journey in architectural practice before transitioning into education, driven by a desire to bridge the gap between academic ideals and real-world practice. With over 25 years of experience as a practising architect in India and as an educator at both graduate and postgraduate levels, he believes the role of an architect and educator extends beyond professional or institutional boundaries. Deeply influenced by his mentors, Dr. Anand is committed to passing on a legacy of professional and ethical responsibility. He finds fulfilment in guiding students through complex design and theoretical challenges and mentoring faculty to improve teaching practices. His greatest reward lies in seeing students grow into confident professionals who contribute meaningfully to society.
Integrating Practice, Ethics, and Sustainability in Architecture Education
Dr. Anand is deeply committed to both architectural practice in India and mentoring future architects. As Principal of VESCOA, his leadership is shaped by his mentors and inspired by the ideals of Swami Vivekananda and Shri Hashuji Advani. He envisions VESCOA as a hub of innovation and excellence, rooted in sustainable design and socially responsive practices. Under his guidance, the institution emphasises integrated thinking and an environmentally conscious approach to architectural education. For him, sustainability is not just a curriculum topic but a guiding principle, aiming to nurture architects who are technically skilled, ethically grounded, and prepared for future challenges. His work reflects a balance of professional expertise and a deep commitment to societal upliftment through education.
Evolution in Educational Leadership
One of the key milestones in Dr. Anand’s journey as an educational leader has been his extensive teaching experience for over two decades. This long-standing engagement provided him with a front-row view of the inner workings of academia from curriculum planning and intellectual strategies to the sophisticated responsibilities of mentoring students and faculty. Early in his career, Dr. Anand recognised the profound value of fostering a collaborative academic environment: one where individuals from diverse backgrounds could express themselves freely, enriching the collective learning experience.
Dr. Anand’s approach to curriculum development has been deeply influenced by his mentors, who inspired him to look beyond traditional classroom boundaries and integrate real-world urban and ecological contexts into academic design. This philosophy laid the foundation for his later work at VESCOA, where he was able to institutionalise these values on a broader scale. His leadership at VESCOA has focused on integrating relevance, sustainability, and interdisciplinary learning into the architectural curriculum.
Drawing on earlier experiences, Dr. Anand has shaped a leadership style rooted in open-mindedness, inclusivity, and a balanced integration of academic theory with professional practice. At the core of his educational philosophy lies the belief that learning and, by extension, leadership must be dynamic.
Vision for Holistic and Sustainable Education
Architecture reflects culture, history, and human creativity while addressing urgent environmental responsibilities. Preparing professionals for such a dynamic field requires forward-thinking, adaptable, and holistic education. At VESCOA, Mumbai, Dr. Anand and his dedicated faculty lead with a vision grounded in innovation, proactivity, and adaptability. He emphasises cultivating this mindset in students and educators, ensuring they are equipped to meet future challenges. He believes that institutional leadership must look beyond immediate academic outcomes to consider the long-term societal impact of its graduates. Under his guidance, VESCOA is committed to creating a sustainable and humane built environment. This shared mission, rooted in awareness, sensitivity, and perseverance, shapes all aspects of the institution, from daily operations to strategic planning, to nurture architects who can positively influence global society.
The Fusion of Technology, Sustainability, and Culture
Since VESCOA’s inception in 2018, Dr. Anand has led the institution with a vision that places technology at the heart of architectural education, particularly in environmental design and sustainability. With a diverse professional background, he views technology not as a supplementary tool but as a transformative force that reshapes how students think, innovate, and engage with architecture. Under his leadership, VESCOA has evolved into a tech-enabled, dynamic learning environment. Students are encouraged to challenge conventions using digital tools, sustainability frameworks, and emerging design technologies, fostering experimentation and global collaboration.
Dr. Anand’s approach balances innovation with human values. He believes that architecture must be guided by empathy, inclusivity, and cultural awareness. To this end, he has prioritised the integration of Humanities and theoretical inquiry across the five-year curriculum. This comprehensive model ensures that VESCOA graduates are proficient in technology, socially responsible, culturally aware, and ready to contribute meaningfully to an increasingly interconnected and complex world.
Model for Experiential and Contextual Architectural Education
Dr. Anand’s leadership at VESCOA emphasises innovation, collaboration, and experiential learning. He has cultivated an academic culture where theoretical knowledge is seamlessly integrated with hands-on experiences through a multidisciplinary approach. Students and faculty regularly engage with artisans, communities, and industry professionals, extending learning beyond the classroom.
VESCOA maintains over 40 academic and professional collaborations, offering diverse learning opportunities through site visits, market surveys, exhibitions, seminars, and national and international conferences. These experiences enrich students’ contextual understanding and enhance their professional readiness.
Research is a key pillar of Dr. Anand’s vision. Faculty are actively encouraged to pursue research, engage in community projects, and participate in conferences. VESCOA has hosted multiple national programs in partnership with COA-TRC Pune, contributing to faculty development and national architectural discourse.
The curriculum also includes architectural study tours across India, featuring workshops, site-based learning, and interactions with local professionals. This holistic model promotes academic rigour, practical engagement, and cultural immersion that prepares students and faculty to responsibly shape the built environment with vision and purpose.
A Framework for Future-Focused, Experiential Learning
Over two decades as an architect and educator, Dr. Anand has led VESCOA through numerous challenges in a constantly evolving architectural education landscape. With his team, he has embraced a proactive, adaptable, and innovative approach to stay ahead of technological changes, industry demands, and shifting student expectations.
A major challenge has been maintaining curriculum relevance while fostering pedagogical innovation. Under Dr. Anand’s leadership, VESCOA redesigned its curriculum in alignment with NEP 2020, global best practices, and industry input. The updated program emphasises tangible learning outcomes and employability, built on four pillars: Design Thinking, Skill Development, Technology, and Knowledge. It features bespoke courses, integrated research, and expanded internship opportunities.
To promote student-centric learning, Dr. Anand introduced interactive, outcome-based education methods, including multidisciplinary electives and hands-on workshops. He also tackled institutional positioning amid growing competition by showcasing VESCOA’s unique strengths like sustainability, ethics, and innovation through focused social media campaigns and transparent administration.
Institutional development has included academic audits, continuous faculty training, and streamlined operations. By optimising digital systems like ERP and clarifying faculty roles, Dr. Anand ensured academic and research priorities remained central. Strategic industry partnerships, mentorship programs, and professional development initiatives have further enhanced student employability.
Honours That Celebrate VESCOA’s Vision and Impact
Under Dr. Anand’s leadership, VESCOA has earned numerous prestigious recognitions, reflecting its commitment to academic excellence and innovation in architectural education. Most notably, the institution ranked 1st in Maharashtra and 9th nationally in the IIRF 2024 rankings, affirming its academic strength and visionary approach.
The Global Human Resource Development Centre (GHRDC) awarded VESCOA 2nd place in Maharashtra and the Western Region, and 3rd in the “Category of Excellence” in its 2024 Architecture Colleges Survey. It was also recognised as the “Most Promising Institute,” acknowledging its forward-thinking vision and focus on nurturing future leaders.
In 2023, VESCOA received the “Academic Insight Award” for Outstanding Architecture College, along with recognition for fostering an “Ambient Research Environment.” The Knowledge Review Magazine also featured VESCOA among “India’s Leading Architecture Institutes of the Year 2023,” celebrating its blend of educational innovation and academic rigour.
Earlier accolades include the IIRF 2023 ranking (10th in Maharashtra, 41st nationally), the “Rising Star Award 2022” from GHRDC, and a 2021 feature by Higher Education Digest as one of India’s top“10 MUST WATCH” architecture colleges. COA accreditation continues to validate VESCOA’s high academic and professional standards.
VESCOA students have excelled at platforms such as WADE Asia and Solar Decathlon India and consistently top the University of Mumbai rankings. The faculty has achieved international recognition through research publications and global conference participation, contributing to a vibrant and globally connected academic environment that reflects Dr. Anand’s leadership and vision.
Guiding Principles from a Visionary Educator
Dr. Anand advises emerging leaders to focus on research, innovation, industry partnerships, infrastructure development, sustainability, and inclusivity to create a lasting impact in education. He emphasises adaptability in a rapidly changing landscape and encourages fostering a culture where students and faculty engage in questioning, creativity, and collaboration. Dr. Anand highlights the importance of building strong industry connections through meaningful collaborations and internships that provide practical skills. He advocates investing in advanced infrastructure like ICT-enabled classrooms and simulation labs to enhance learning. For him, sustainability and inclusivity must be integral, with policies and spaces welcoming all individuals. True leadership sometimes demands bold transformation beyond the status quo.
Shaping a Next-Generation Architecture Institute
Dr. Anand envisions establishing the institute as a leading centre of architectural education through a focus on research, innovation, industry collaboration, and inclusive, sustainable development. To address the evolving demands of the profession, he is expanding academic offerings with autonomous and credit-based courses that equip students with advanced, future-ready skills.
He is committed to strengthening research by setting up specialised centres and introducing promotion and incentive policies, supported by the on-campus innovation and incubation cell. Dr. Anand is also enhancing industry engagement through expanded collaborations, faculty exchanges, internships, and placement opportunities to provide students with real-world exposure.
Infrastructure development remains a key priority under his leadership, including ICT-enabled classrooms, advanced labs, and 3D simulation technologies to create a world-class learning environment. Sustainability is central to his vision, with initiatives like solar rooftops, rainwater harvesting, green roofing, and waste management aimed at building an eco-friendly campus.
Dr. Anand is also ensuring inclusivity through a Divyangjan-friendly campus and is forging international partnerships to broaden global learning opportunities, positioning VESCOA as a forward-thinking institution in architectural education.
