Architect and Design Educator Jabeen Zacharias Joins Anant National University as Professor of Practice

As Chief Architect of Jabeen Zacharias Architects, Zacharias has led more than 300 successful projects across hospitality, institutional, corporate, museum, cultural and residential sectors. She has also made extensive contributions to design education in India through teaching, advocacy and leadership roles at academic and professional institutions, including the College of Engineering Trivandrum, the IIID Education Council and the Institute of Indian Interior Designers (IIID).

Zacharias has been associated with the Asia Pacific Space Designers Association (APSDA), the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers (IFI) and the Indian Institute of Architects (IIA), where she became the first woman to chair the Kerala Chapter. She currently serves as Director, Vision & Strategy at the Global Village Foundation, extending her engagement across education, human settlements, ecology, culture and civic initiatives.

At Anant National University, Zacharias will bring her professional experience and industry perspective into the academic environment, strengthening the connection between design education and professional practice. Her engagement will cover experiential and interdisciplinary learning, design advocacy, mentorship and professional networks, providing opportunities for students to learn from real-world practice and engage with the wider social, cultural and environmental contexts of design.

Her appointment strengthens Anant’s commitment to creating a wholesome learning ecosystem in which students engage with leading practitioners who have shaped the profession through sustained work, leadership and impact.

As design education continues to evolve beyond technical training towards contextual, ethical and purpose-driven problem-solving, Zacharias’ multidimensional engagements will contribute to preparing students to respond thoughtfully to the complex realities of the contemporary world.

Anant National University is India’s premier design university, preparing students to face the complex challenges of both the contemporary and emergent worlds. Guided by its brand philosophy, “Come, Create the New”, Anant encourages learners to move beyond conventional ways of thinking and imagining, designing and pursuing more inclusive, sustainable and future-ready possibilities.

The university offers multidisciplinary undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes across design, architecture, climate action and visual arts. Its inventive academic approach combines rigorous learning, studio-based practice, emerging technologies, sustainability, Indigenous Knowledge Systems, research, entrepreneurship and hands-on community experiences.

Anant has been recognised as a Centre of Excellence by the Government of Gujarat. It has also received a ‘5-Star Rating’ in Architecture and a ‘4-Star Rating’ in the University category under the Gujarat State Institutional Rating Framework (GSIRF) 2023–24. These recognitions reflect Anant’s continuing commitment to building a world-class institution rooted in creativity, contextual understanding, innovation and purpose.

At Anant National University, education begins with the belief that the future will not be inherited but purposefully designed. Guided by the philosophy “Come, Create the New”, the university brings together learners who are curious about the world as it is and ambitious about what it could become.

The university encourages students to look beyond conventional answers and engage with complex challenges ranging from climate and sustainability to cities, communities, systems and technologies. Its undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes span design, architecture, climate action and visual arts, combining academic rigour with studio-based learning, emerging technologies, research, entrepreneurship, Indigenous Knowledge Systems and hands-on engagement with communities.

The university’s approach focuses not only on practical skills but also on preparing diligent professionals who can connect disciplines, understand context and create meaningful change. Recognised as a Centre of Excellence by the Government of Gujarat, Anant received a 5-Star Rating in Architecture and a 4-Star Rating in the University category under the Gujarat State Institutional Rating Framework (GSIRF) 2023-24.

These recognitions reflect the university’s continuing commitment to building an innovating institution where creativity, sustainability, innovation and purpose come together to help shape a more thoughtful and resilient future.