Strengthening Global Connections: IU Indianapolis Explores Partnerships in India

Republic Day: A Global Celebration

On January 26, 1950, the Indian Constitution took effect, establishing the nation as a sovereign democratic republic. This day is a national holiday in India, celebrated globally by people of Indian descent who honor the democratic values that led to independence in 1947.  

Expanding IU’s Global Reach

With support from IU India Gateway, IU Indianapolis faculty recently visited Indian cities to explore collaboration opportunities.

Some trip highlights include:

• Amrita University
• International Conference on Gender and Technology 2025 at Amrita University
• ATLAS SkillTech University
• Mumbai University
• PIWOT PanIIT Conference in Mumbai
• Visit to Bennett University, Sharda University, and Amity University

The biggest takeaway:

No doubt there is a large market in India for education. The population is about 1.45 billion, surpassing China’s 1.42 billion. As The Economist points out, the Indian economy is anticipated to surpass Japan's and become the fourth largest in the world, following the U.S., China, and Germany.

Recent work by Bharti, Nitin Kumar and Yang, Li, "The Making of China and India in the 21st Century: Long-Run Human Capital Accumulation from 1900 to 2020" (December 01, 2024), ZEW - Centre for European Economic Research Discussion Paper No. 24-078, highlights that although engineering fields have gained student interest, discipline distribution in India remains tilted towards the social sciences and humanities. In short, there is a large education market across all disciplines.

Opportunities Identified

During our recent visit, we identified collaboration opportunities with various universities in India, such as the University of Mumbai, Amrita University, Bennett University, Sharda University, and Amity University. These discussions covered fields like psychology, industrial organization, public health, data science, business, and health informatics. We explored potential research partnerships focused on community medicine and the option for dual degrees, enabling students to study one year in India and another at IU Indianapolis, earning degrees from both institutions. Conversations with students affirmed interest in these degrees from IU.

The IU brand is globally recognized due to the dedication of our faculty and staff, along with our alumni, many of whom are successful leaders in business and community across India. International mobility of talent is valuable when done in the right format and respecting legal requirements. The higher education system we offer is highly valued and in demand. Having spent nearly a year at IU Indianapolis, I can attest that this begins with our talented faculty, staff, and students.

Go Jags!

Latha Ramchand
Chancellor