Vikas John’s primary area of work is higher education administration. He is involved with the day-to-day processes of the IIHS Research programme as well as in the design and pursuit of its goals. His background is in communication studies, both in terms of educational credentials and work experience. His interests lie in educational studies, particularly the experiences of knowledge systems and spaces, as they intersect with the socio-cultural construction of identity. He is also interested in research management, research communication, and the social and philosophical foundations of education.

Vikas has assisted in several small- and large-scale research projects. He was involved with the Ford Foundation-funded International Comparative Higher Educational Finance and Accessibility project, and the Women and Higher Education in Asia project, both housed at the University at Buffalo. More recently, Vikas worked on the Knowledge in Action for Urban Equality (KNOW) project, looking at student and alumni trajectories in planning education across multiple sites. He is also part of the Spencer Foundation-funded project on bridging access to higher education and the role of community-based preparatory sites.

Prior to his current role, he worked in the field of communication in various capacities. He gained experience in designing and executing effective messaging across different channels. His master’s thesis at the Rochester Institute of Technology examined the effectiveness of websites in health communication. Vikas also has a knowledge base in development communication, which he specialised in at the University of Hyderabad. His final group project was a documentary film on housing and land tenure rights among the urban poor called Kya Aap Ghar Todne Aayen Hain? (Have You Come to Break Our Homes?) (2001).

Vikas has presented work at various international and national conferences, including ISA, AERA, RC21, CIES, IAFOR, CESI, and the Development Studies Association (DSA) conference.