Azim Premji university in talks for global partnerships

The Azim Premji University, a self-financed private one being established in Karnataka by the Azim Premji Foundation, is exploring partnerships with world-class global universities.

The university, the first of its kind to be established in the state, is in talks with at least four universities in North America to secure their help in several areas.

“We are in talks with some foreign universities for collaboration in areas of curriculum development, faculty and teachers’ development. They can bring some world-class knowledge repository of teaching and learning processes. We may also look at them as partners for research exchange. We are primarily looking at some of the top-class Indians teaching or into research in foreign countries,” Dileep Ranjekar, CEO of Azim Premji Foundation, told Business Standard. The university is a not-for-profit organisation chaired by Wipro chairman Azim Premji.

Joint faculty development, said Ranjekar, was needed since the concept of education management was nascent in India, which made it difficult to get the right talent. The Foundation has also entered into a research agreement with Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, in Toronto (Canada). “Our partnership with them will be in the area of education research,” said Ranjekar.

The Foundation had approached the state government last year to set up the university to provide training, research and development in various disciplines, including elementary and secondary education and education management. Recently, both Houses of the Karnataka legislature approved the Azim Premji Foundation Bill, despite protests from opposition parties. The Bill has gone to the Governor for his approval.

Expecting legal hassles to be over soon, the Foundation has started the process to identify the preference. “The success of the university will almost entirely depend on the quality of faculty that we are able to appoint and develop. It will also depend on the unique culture we are able to create in the university. Special efforts will be made to reach rural Karnataka. There is a lot of talent out there. All they require is opportunity and support in language and communication. It ought to be understood that the university is meant to contribute to the larger system of education in India. The process is also on to identify the department heads and faculty members,” added Ranjekar.