FLAME University and Wellesley College have partnered to facilitate international academic exchange: Devi Singh

FLAME University is committed to enhancing the educational experience of students by encouraging them and providing opportunities to operate in multilingual and multicultural settings at an international level. Need of internationalisation has been noticed in the Indian education industry due to stagnant growth and less diversification. Through collaboration, exchange and study abroad programs undertaken by FLAME University are aiming at providing students and faculty a global perspective on education and research, and prepare them for leadership and service in an interconnected globalised world.

In an interview with Educationbiz, Devi Singh, Vice Chancellor, FLAME University, Pune tells us how they help students by diversifying their learning experience, which further enhances their employability by having demonstrable experience of living and learning in a culture which is different from their own. Read below to find out more:

Briefly tell us about FLAME University’s partnership with Wellesley University?
FLAME University and Wellesley College have signed a partnership that will facilitate international academic exchange, develop academic and scientific relationships, and support collaborative research activities. Under the agreement, international collaborative activities between the two institutions shall include but will not be limited to: curriculum development, research collaborations, faculty exchanges, student exchanges, and conduction of experiential learning programs among other academic areas.

With this collaboration what kind of educational and business values FLAME University is sharing with Wellesley University?
FLAME University’s focus on providing quality liberal arts education is in line with Wellesley College's desire in increasing educational and cultural programming relating to India. FLAME University’s liberal education ethos and unique faculty-student mentoring pedagogy is also fundamental to Wellesley’s mission.

In particular which courses from Wellesley University are you planning to introduce in India?
Courses across various disciplines in liberal arts will be planned. A faculty contingent from Wellesley visited FLAME University recently from differentacademic departments like English, South Asian studies, Environmental Studies, Public Policy, etc. to discuss specific programs and courses.

So far how many international universities have you partnered with and what is the learning?
FLAME University has mutually engaged in beneficial collaborations with following Universities:

- Nuffield College, University of Oxford: FLAME University signed a MOU with Nuffield College, University of Oxford, , that creates a collaborative Centre for Experimental Social Sciences at FLAME University, the first such research centre in India. The MoU provides intensive collaboration on training of young experimental social scientists in India.

- Wellesley College: Academic collaboration with Wellesley College a private, women's liberal arts college, ranked 3rd best national liberal arts college in the United States in 2017, that facilitates international academic exchange, develop academic and scientific relationships, and support collaborative research activities.

- Yale University: Association with Yale University, an American Ivy League research university allows FLAME University students to attend Yale’s Summer Session Program Official communication.

- Kelley School of Business: Partnership with Kelley School of Business, ranked 9th for its undergraduate business program according to US News & World Report, includes study abroad programs, collaborative research, faculty exchange, executive education and curriculum development.

- Babson College: Accepted as a member of the Babson Collaborative, an initiative by Babson College, in the United States brings together educational institution from around the globe under one platform for the exchange of best practices in entrepreneurship education.

- Global Liberal Arts Alliance: FLAME University has been accepted as a member in the Global Liberal Arts Alliance. Goal of the consortium is to provide an international framework for cooperation among institutions.

- Library of Mistakes: The University has announced its association with the Library of Mistakes, Edinburgh. The Library of Mistakes provides a resource for the study of mistakes made in the sphere of Business and finance, learning from the economic disasters of the past, thereby improving financial understanding amongst professionals, students and the public.

While liberal arts stream is widely neglected and how do you see the future growth with this partnership?
As the contemporary world becomes more and more complex- technologically, politically and socially, the tools provided by the liberal education ethos of FLAME University helps meet the challenges of tomorrow. The essentially interdisciplinary character of the education at FLAME provides the necessary exposure to the multifaceted character of human nature. This leaves one in good stead in a world that throws upon multiple unknowns, uncertainties and surprises. It builds creativity and capacity to innovate. The liberal education at FLAME trains one to thrive in this ‘disruptive’ world full of ambiguity where there isn’t always one right answer when one makes decisions. The liberal arts background of many of the top CEOs in the world bears adequate testimony to this. Our association with Wellesley College will aid in students and parents realizing the long term importance of a liberal education.

What is the outcome of your Discover India programme and how have you inculcated it into your academics?
The Discover India Program (DIP) is an integral part of the experiential learning component of the undergraduate curriculum of FLAME University. The program’s primary focus is on exploring, understanding, and experiencing the rich culture and heritage of India. The program is designed to be exploratory in nature that allows students to develop a critical approach to the study of cultural and historical traditions as well as learn basic methods of project formulation along with written and visual documentation.

With these gamut of Indian and International courses, what key qualities are you nurturing in students while promising bright future?
FLAME University is committed to enhance the educational experience of students by encouraging and providing them opportunities to operate in multilingual and multicultural settings at an international level. This exposure adds value to the students by diversifying their learning experience; enhances their employability by having demonstrable experience of living and learning in a culture which is different from their own. The international relations initiative at FLAME University essentially has the makings of a mutually beneficial relationship between the faculty and students of both, FLAME and associated institutions and universities.

What are your vision and future plans of collaborating with more overseas universities?
We are dedicated to strengthening our existing collaborations and forge strong bonds between the academic teams of our partner institutes. Forming few but strong relationships is at the centre of our internalisation strategy.

What is your fore view of the future of education in India?
Education today, requires a different kind of value addition. Interventions in education require a focus on a holistic, multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural perspective. At FLAME, we believe these interventions need to be inspired from the framework of liberal education. The new universities need to be created that would play a pivotal role as they would give shape to new learning’s, new culture, pedagogy, structure and processes. Understanding that the external environment is changing and the country is maturing in its freedom, and the young generation is starting to show very different patterns of expectations and behaviour, creation of a new path in a new direction is beginning to be glimpsed in the horizon.