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AU team meets at site of new Akruti University near Mumbai, India (Fifth from left: Dr. Trivedi, Dean of Akruti University) |
Overseas Connections
Assessing the Feasibility of an American-Style University in India
GIVEN AU'S EXPERIENCES HELPING ESTABLISH American-style universities overseas, it should come as no surprise that a group from India contacted AU about plans for a new university near Mumbai. Vimal Shah, Director of Akruti Nirman Ltd, is leading the efforts to create an American-style university.
In January, a team of AU administrators traveled to India. Through interviews with educators, students, government officials, and business representatives, the team gathered data to assess the project's feasibility and determine next steps in a possible partnership. The team was comprised of Dr. Robert Pastor, vice president of international affairs; Dr. Ivy Broder, interim provost; Donald Myers, treasurer and vice president of finance; and Dr. Jeff Lunstead, assistant vice president of international affairs.
The university project ties in with AU's new India Forum, chaired by SIS Professor Shalini Venturelli. AU's first initiative dedicated exclusively to India, the Forum was launched in January 2006 with an event keynoted by Naresh Chandra, who was then Indian Ambassador to the United States. Professor Venturelli, who has provided extensive background for the India university project, explained that the Forum's focus is the "new India" and India's relationship with the U.S. Dr. Venturelli and others are exploring how the world's two largest democracies can collaborate on a range of topics from science to trade.
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