Dr. Zakkariya K. A. is a Professor of Management and an inspiring academic leader with over twenty-seven years of experience in teaching, training, and research. A passionate teacher and mentor, he is known for his dedication to academic excellence, institutional growth, and student empowerment.

He holds master’s degrees in Psychology (Second Rank), Business Administration (MBA–Marketing), and Human Resource Management (MHRM), and earned his Ph.D. in Emotional Intelligence and Sales Executive Performance from Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT).

A prolific researcher, Dr. Zakkariya has co-authored more than a hundred research papers and guided seventeen Ph.D. scholars. His publications have attracted around two thousand citations on Google Scholar with an H-index of twenty-three. He has authored and edited several books and collaborates with researchers from over half a dozen countries. He also served as a Guest Researcher at Dresden University of Technology, Germany. His research appears in reputed journals such as the International Journal of Consumer Studies, Journal of Sustainable Tourism, Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services and the Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics.

Dr. Zakkariya is widely recognized as a visionary institution builder in Kerala. He played a key role in establishing three major centres at CUSAT—DDU KAUSHAL Kendra, the Centre for Employee Empowerment and Skill Acquisition (CEESA), and the Centre for Teaching Excellence.  His leadership extends to international collaborations, including his involvement in the European Union Project for Capacity Building in Higher Education and as a trained teacher under the Erasmus+ program.

He has held several leadership positions, including Governing Council Member of Kerala State Higher Education Council, Director of the School of Management Studies at CUSAT, Director of AMU Centre at Malappuram, and Syndicate and Senate Member of CUSAT, Founder Director, DDU KAUSHAL Kendra, CUSAT; Executive Council Member, Aligarh University; General Council Member, Kerala Agricultural University; Chairman Boards of Studies; etc.  . Currently, he serves as the Regional Vice President (South) of the Indian Society for Training and Development (ISTD), New Delhi.

1. Major  Projects Undertaken

1. Successfully brought the DDU KAUSHAL Kendra (DDUKK) Scheme to the University with funding of ₹40 million from the University Grants Commission (UGC) and established the project effectively. CUSAT is the only university in Kerala selected by the UGC to launch a KAUSHAL Kendra. DDUKK is also among the first institutions in the country to offer Master’s level vocational programmes.
2. Through Dr. Zakkariya’s initiative and efforts, CUSAT became a partner institution in the European Union project titled “Developing Future-Oriented Academic Curricula in Teacher Education with Innovative Methodologies for Nex-Gen Asian HEIs (FRACTION)”. This multi-country initiative, with a budget of €1 million, was coordinated by Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Poland, and involved 12 partner institutions from six countries. Dr. Zakkariya was the local Coordinator of the project activities at CUSAT, and as part of the project, a Centre of Teaching Excellence was established at the university to strengthen teachers’ capacity building.

2. Significant Research and Consultancy undertaken

1. Produced 17 Ph.Ds
2. Currently supervising nine Research Scholars
3. Published  Over 100 research articles
4. Current “H’-Factor: 23
5. Best Paper Awards: 05
6. Edited Books Published : 04
7. Books Published : 02

Dr. Zakkariya has undertaken consultancy assignments, either independently or as part of a team, with the following organizations:

1. Samagra Shiksha Kerala (SSK), Government of Kerala
2. Indian Navy (CELABS,Southern Naval command)
3. Fethersoft Pvt. Ltd.
4. Kochi Salem Pipeline Private Limited(KSPPL), (A BPCL-IOCL Joint Venture)
5. Indian Oil Corporation Ltd.
6. Department of Industries, Government of Kerala
7. India Post (Department of Posts, Government of India)

 (ii) Academic Distinctions (awards and recognitions received etc).

• Shortlisted for the National Award for Best Teacher by the Government of India for the year 2025.
• Conferred Fellowship by the Indian Society for Training and Development (ISTD), New Delhi for 2022–23.
• Guest Researcher at Dresden University of Technology (TUD), Germany, 2023.
• Mentored three research scholars who were recognized with Best Researcher Awards by CUSAT.
• Winner of the Outstanding Paper Award for the year 2024 from Emerald
• Recipient of the Best Member Award by the Indian Society for Training and Development, New Delhi, 2019–20.
• Awarded Best Paper five times at various national and international conferences.
• Best Alumni Award, MES Asmabi College, 2013.

 (iii)Administrative Distinctions:

1. Member, Governing Council, Kerala State Higher Education Council, 2015- 2016
2. Member, Syndicate, Cochin University of Science and Technology (2003 to 2007, 2011  to 2015 and 2015 to  2016)
3. Director, Aligarh Muslim University Centre, Malappuram, 30-10-2013 to 27-11-2014
4. Director, School of Management Studies, Cochin University of Science and Technology, 22-05-2024 to 31-07-2025
5. Member, Executive Council, Aligarh Muslim University, 16-01-2014 to 27-11-2014
6. Founder Director, DDU KAUSHAL KENDRA CUSAT, 10-09-2015 to 05-04-2024
7. Founder Director, Centre for Employee Empowerment and Skill Acquisition
8. (CEESA), CUSAT, 07-05-2013 to 29-10-2013.
9. Director, Dept. of Students’ Welfare, Cochin University, 22-09-2006 to 30-11-2007
10. Member, General Council, Kerala Agricultural University, 02-11-2005 to 17-06-2008.
11. Member, Board of Governors, College of Engineering, Adoor, 2012 to 2017
12. Member, Academic Council, CUSAT, 22-05-2003 to 21-05-2007 and from 07-12-  2011 till date
13. Member, Senate, CUSAT, 2003 February Onwards (now sixth term, Elected Member)
14. Chairman, Board of Studies (BoS) in Business Process and Data Analytics, CUSAT, (Two Terms)
15. Chairman, BoS in Technology & Management Consulting, CUSAT, (Two Terms)
16. Chairman, BoS in Business/Industrial Management, CUSAT, 2015- 2019
17. Coordinator, Centre for Teaching Excellence, Cochin University, 16-03-2022 till  Date

 (iv) Professional Activities (Membership of Professional Bodies)

1. Regional Vice President (South), Indian Society for Training and Development, New Delhi, 2024-26 term
2. Chairman, Indian Society for Training and Development, Cochin Chapter, 2020-22
3. Member, Managing committee, Kerala Management Association, 2022-23
4. President, Cochin University Teachers’ Organisation, 06-12-2018 to 25-02-2023
5. National Council Member, Indian Society for Training and Development, 2017-18, 2020-22, 2022-24, 2024-26
6. Life Member, All India Management Association, New Delhi, Membership No: LM-201311244.
7. Member, Indian Academy of Management, (INDAM), INDAM-2021-A0090-01