Sanjana
Sanjana Surbhi
Assistant Manager
New Delhi, Updated on Aug 21, 2025 11:29 IST

IIIT Hyderabad has announced a leadership transition, with Prof. P. J. Narayanan handing over charge to Prof. Sandeep Shukla as the new Director.

IIIT Hyderabad Welcomes Prof. Sandeep Shukla as New Director

IIIT Hyderabad Welcomes Prof. Sandeep Shukla as New Director

The International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad (IIITH) has announced a leadership transition, with Prof. P. J. Narayanan stepping down as Director after a 12-year tenure. He hands over charge to Prof. Sandeep Shukla, who assumes office as the new Director. Prof. Narayanan, who took over as Director in April 2013, is credited with elevating IIITH to new heights in research excellence, academic innovation, and industry collaboration. During his tenure, the institute expanded its research footprint, strengthened interdisciplinary programs, and fostered a strong culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.

About Prof. Sandeep Shukla, New Director of IIIT Hyderabad

Prof. Sandeep Shukla, an internationally acclaimed expert in cyber-physical systems, formal verification, and cybersecurity, joins IIITH as Director from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, where he served as Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and co-director of the National Interdisciplinary Centre for Cyber Security and Cyber Defence of Critical Infrastructure. A Fellow of IEEE, he has been widely recognised with numerous awards for his outstanding contributions to research and education.

Speaking on the transition, Prof Narayanan said, β€œLeading IIIT Hyderabad for over 12 years has been a great honour. During this period, the institute has experienced extraordinary growth, doubling our student admissions, graduations, and faculty numbers. Even more significant is the expansion of our research output, reflected in a substantial increase in publications, patents, and innovative solutions.

Prof Shukla added, "I am extremely honoured and excited that IIIT Hyderabad is entrusting me with the responsibility of their next leader. Following the wonderful work done by prior directors Prof. Rajeev Sangal and Prof. P. J. Narayanan, is a tough act, and I hope that I can rise to the challenge. One of my priorities will be to build a world class cyber security research center extending the existing strengths already developed here. Other areas I would like to explore to develop are cybercrime investigation research methodologies and tools, Development of Web3 and Blockchain based systems, use of GenAI and agentic AI in Cyber security, 5G and 6G communiation and resilient telecom infrastructure, new age learning and teaching research with emerging technologies, technology policy research etc.”.

Q: Β  Is IIIT Hyderabad better than IIT Hyderabad?
A:

IIIT Hyderabad has been ranked 55 under the Engineering category by the NIRF in 2023. On the other hand, IIT Hyderabad has been ranked 8 by the NIRF in the same category in 2023. Talking about the placements, the the highest and average package offered during IIIT Hyderabad placements 2023 stood at INR 69 LPA and INR 32 LPA, respectively. On the other hand, the the highest and average package offered was INR 65.46 LPA and INR 20.46 LPA during IIT Hyderabad placements 2023, respectively. Therefore, it is safe to conclude that IIT Hyderabad is better than IIIT Hyderabad.

Q: Β  Is IIIT Bangalore better than IIIT Hyderabad?
A:

Both IIIT Bangalore and IIIT Hyderabad are excellent institutes, and it is difficult to say which one is "better". However, there are some factors that may make one institute a better fit for you than the other.

Here is a comparison of IIIT Bangalore and IIIT Hyderabad:

Both IIIT Bangalore and IIIT Hyderabad are excellent institutes, and it is difficult to say which one is "better". However, there are some factors that may make one institute a better fit for you than the other.

Here is a comparison of IIIT Bangalore and IIIT Hyderabad:

IIIT Bangalore

  • Location: Bangalore, Karnataka
  • Established: 1999
  • NIRF Rankings 2023: 74
  • QS World University Rankings: 701-750
  • Average salary package 2023: INR 35.03 LPA

IIIT Hyderabad

  • Location: Hyderabad, Telangana
  • Established: 1998
  • NIRF Rankings 2023: 55
  • QS World University Rankings: 751-800
  • Average salary package 2023: INR 32.2 LPA

As you can see, both the institutes are ranked very highly in national and international rankings. However, IIIT Bangalore has a slightly higher average salary package. However, IIIT Bangalore is located in Bangalore, which is a major IT hub in India. This may be a factor if you are interested in working in the IT industry after graduation.

Ultimately, the best way to decide which institute is right for you is to visit both campuses and talk to students and faculty. You should also consider your own personal preferences, such as the location of the institute and the type of programme you are interested in.

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About the Author
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Sanjana Surbhi
Assistant Manager
Sanjana Surbhi has over five years of experience in the online education sector. Drawing from her tenure with ed-tech companies, she infuses her work with a wealth of knowledge from the education realm, lending an i Read Full Bio

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