In this tech-ade, collaboration is a key mantra across all sectors. It’s no different for education, as collaborating and knowledge sharing are crucial to advancing education and bringing it closer to the industry, bridging the gap. Collaborating across various disciplines helps institutions increase creativity, innovation, and problem-solving abilities and better serve their students and communities.
During the World University Leadership Summit last year in Shenzhen, China, William Xu, the Chair of Huawei's Scientist Advisory Committee, made some interesting observations. He shed light on this critical necessity of modern-day academia: Collaboration. He said, "New theoretical and technological breakthroughs are urgently needed to lead the information industry into new stages. Universities, research institutions, and enterprises should work closely together to address industry challenges and deliver world-class achievements."
Students should always be at the heart of every educational organization’s future, and it is essential to provide them with an education driven by outcomes, wherein such collaborations play a crucial role. It shouldn’t be confined to job placements but aligned with their aspirations. Whether a student desires to become an entrepreneur, a technical scientist, or pursue a PhD at Stanford, the educational approach of institutions must be designed to facilitate their ambitions. The National Education Policy (NEP) is offering a new chance—a robust framework for flexible education, allowing for seamless entry and exit points for students and fostering a holistic educational experience. It’s a great omen that the top educational institutions in the country are paying heed to this trend and making that stride forward.
IIM Bangalore
IIM Bangalore recently inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with FPSB India, the professional standards-setting body for financial planning in India, to jointly offer an Executive Education Program in Financial Planning. This new program is designed for working professionals and students to cater to the growing demand for advanced financial planning education. In the aftermath of the collaboration, both institutions will jointly organize events, including workshops, seminars and conferences, to foster knowledge exchange and networking opportunities for professionals and students alike.
Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University
Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad (JNTUH), is also ready to embrace this modern collaborative approach. JNTUH has launched five new BTech + Masters programs that allow students to study for three years at JNTUH and two years in the United States. Starting from the next academic year, students from Telangana can study for two degrees simultaneously in aerospace engineering, cyber security, and computer science at some of the best universities in the United States of America. The university recently signed agreements with institutions including Stevens Institute of Technology, Lawrence Technological University, University of Alabama, and Milwaukee School of Engineering. “Each of these programs will only have 10-15 seats, and admissions will be based on Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) or Engineering Agricultural and Medical Common Entrance Test (EAMC-ET) scores,” said Manzoor Hussain, Registrar, JNTUH. The admission requirements are expected to include at least 70 percent marks in the class 12 or intermediate exam.
Manipal Academy of Higher Education
MAHE recently joined hands with CliniExperts—one of India's leading research-to-regulation groups that offers comprehensive clinical research and regulatory services to the healthcare, MedTech, and pharmaceutical industries. The newly forged alliance is set to significantly contribute to the development of a comprehensive wellness framework nationwide. The partnership between CliniExperts and Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Mangalore—a key division of MAHE—will encrust integrated research, trials, and innovative initiatives, leveraging their combined expertise and resources. Envisioned as a sustained academic-industry collaboration, this venture will encompass a broad spectrum of cooperative endeavors, ranging from research and clinical trials to academic inquiries, investigator-led studies, and extensive epidemiological research.
SRM University
Higher education institutions have a huge responsibility to grow socially committed, responsible citizens. Exposing students to such environments also requires collaboration. SRM University’s recent collaboration with the International Startup Foundation (ISF) to become the regional hub for the Rural Ankura Startup Yatra is a great example of this approach. This ISF initiative is an endeavor to inspire entrepreneurship in tier 2 and 3 cities by identifying and nurturing entrepreneurial talent.
Well, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. In truth, SRM University has always been at the forefront of societal and cultural intervention. That’s also one of the reasons that the 12th World Tamil Research Conference will be held at SRM University in May 2025. If the last edition of the conference revolved around the challenges facing the Tamil language in the Internet age, this edition will focus on the impact and influence of Tamil among world languages, with scholars from many countries participating and sharing their views.
Commenting about the conference, Karu Nagarajan, president of Tamil Perayam, SRM University, said that he expects many scholars, writers, poets, and media and social media activists to take part in the conference. The discussions will also revolve around reviews and deliberations about Tamil books published in 2023 and 2024. According to him, there will be a host of events—from exhibitions of traditional and modern paintings to screenings of the history of Tamil cinema.
National Institute of Technology
It’s the need of the hour that the aforementioned collaborative approach goes beyond academia. For instance, it’s high time digital transformation hit the university corridors worldwide. The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Warangal sets an example by taking a significant step towards modernizing administrative operations by launching an e-office file system. Developed by the National Informatics Centre, a pivotal agency of the Government of India, this system is designed to enhance governance through heightened accountability and transparency. The inauguration of the e-office by Director Bidyadhar Subudhi marks a commendable move towards a paperless office environment, reflecting NIT-Warangal's commitment to embracing digital solutions that streamline processes and promote sustainable practices.