Prof. (Dr.) Meena Kapahi brings over 20 years of academic experience with a distinguished focus on internationalization, sustainability, and quality enhancement through accreditations and global rankings. As the Director of International Affairs and Collaborations at Manav Rachna University, she has spearheaded strategic partnerships with institutions worldwide and broadened the university’s global engagement. She is serving as Research Fellow at INTI International University, Malaysia. She also served as visiting faculty at the International Summer School 2017 at Lahti University of Applied Sciences, Finland, and as a Steering Committee Member for the Smart Cities in Smart Regions International Conference 2016 in Lahti, Finland.

Under her leadership, the International Office at MRU manages international collaborations and delegations, and strategic communications through newsletters and the university website, contributing significantly to MRU’s international visibility. Her efforts have led to impactful student immersion programs and semester-long internships for international students, particularly from Finland and Canada. She has actively represented MRU at prestigious global platforms, including the EAIE 2024 in Toulouse, France; APAIE 2025, New Delhi and the QS Reimagine Education Conference 2023 in Abu Dhabi.

Her contributions to sustainability education are equally noteworthy. Her MoEFCC-supported project “The Journey from Waste to Resources” was shortlisted at the QS Reimagine Education Awards 2023. She has served as a panel judge for QS Reimagine Education Awards (2023 and 2024), reviewing global innovations in education. She also developed a MOOC on sustainability education via UNESCO’s Open Education for a Better World initiative. Dr. Meena is currently guiding two Ph.D. scholars and has mentored several UG and PG students. Her research interests include solid waste management and rural sanitation, and she has published extensively in reputed journals and conferences. Her academic portfolio includes two published patents, one copyright, and one granted design.

She has contributed as a reviewer and evaluator for esteemed organizations such as the Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR), USA, the National Science Center, Poland, and the Wageningen Institute, Netherlands. Additionally, she contributed to the UNEP Global Environment Outlook (GEO-6).

During her tenure as the Dean of School of Sciences, she initiated the establishment of the GNSS and Space Weather Lab and launched interdisciplinary initiatives such as the Research Colloquium, fostering a vibrant research culture. During her tenure as the Director of IQAC, she led the university’s first NAAC cycle and played a key role in achieving a QS I-Gauge Diamond Rating.