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Cover Story

Dr. C. Raj Kumar ties out of India’s 1,168 varsities. active faculty. JGU currently has
over 1,100 full-time faculty members
Vice Chancellor, O.P. Jindal Global University, What are your major initiatives to radi- from more than 50 countries, and
Sonipat cally contemporise your syllabus/cur- 45 percent of them have educational
polymath alum of Madras, riculum? qualifications from top 200 global
Our curriculum is a living, breath-
universities. Consequently, we have
Delhi, Hong Kong, Oxford ing entity, evolving with the times. It
A and Harvard universities, assimilates new knowledge, chang- a talent base with strong publication
records, international training, and
Dr. C. Raj Kumar is founding vice ing societal needs, and at all times,
chancellor of the private top-ranked absorbs student feedback. Interdis- deep expertise across disciplines.
By 2047, we aspire to make
O.P. Jindal Global University, ciplinarity has been one of our most
Sonipat (JGU, estb.2009). JGU one of Asia’s leading research
significant curricular initiatives, universities that not only generates
an integral value which has now and disseminates new knowledge but
What are the major objectives set for JGU been institutionalised at JGU. This also applies it for social good.
until India’s 100th Freedom Anniversary means our students are now free to
in 2047? take courses across disciplines. Law What’s your prescription for transform-
Our objectives for the coming years students study public health and in- ing India into a $30 trillion GDP economy
are six-fold. First, to reinforce our ternational affairs; business students by 2047?
pursuit of excellence in teaching, explore human rights and environ- This is an ambitious yet achievable
research and scholarship. Second, to mental studies; liberal arts students goal. But it demands a bold reimagi-
multiply and deepen col- nation of our national
laborations from around priorities, especially
the world, creating a wide in human capital de-
global academic network. velopment. The future
Thirdly, to welcome diver- of India will be based
sity and uphold inclusiv- on how we harness the
ity. Fourth, to expand power of our 1 billion
access to affordable and youth, who can lead
accessible higher educa- India to transforma-
tion. Fifth, to promote tive heights. In the
institutional sustainability, new knowledge econo-
not only in curriculum my, economic growth
but also in institutional cannot be sustained
governance. And #6, to without widespread
strengthen JGU’s pres- access to quality
ence in global institutional education, a thriving
university ranking league innovation ecosystem,
tables. and effective gover-
nance frameworks.
How satisfied are you with Dr. Raj Kumar (centre) with foreign delegation
your progress thus far? How optimistic are you
When I look back at the past 16 engage with AI and data science. about India’s future growth and develop-
years, JGU has surpassed expecta- ment?
tions on many metrics. We were How satisfied are you with JGU’s connect Very optimistic. However, optimism
founded in 2009 with just one law with Indian industry and business? must be matched with action. The
school and a relatively small stu- At JGU, we have fostered deep, sus- gaps in education, healthcare, urban
dent body. Today, we are India’s tained, and values-driven partner- infrastructure, and environmental
top-ranked private university by ships with industry which go beyond protection are real and urgent. How-
EducationWorld — with 12 schools, student placements and guest lec- ever, as we make laws and policies to
six research institutes, and 60-plus tures. Over the past decade, we have address our national challenges, it is
interdisciplinary research centres. focused on building strong advisory important to remember that devel-
We now have a student communi- boards for all our 12 schools. These opment of all forms and manifesta-
ty of over 16,000 from more than 75 boards comprise distinguished busi- tions are primarily about people.
countries, 1,100 world-class faculty ness leaders, entrepreneurs, lawyers, The vision for an Atmanirbhar and
from 50 countries and over 3,000 investors, and technologists. Viksit Bharat is directly correlated
administrative staff. JGU has signed to the development of the people of
academic collaboration agreements R&D and innovation are widely perceived India. With more than 70 percent
with 525 reputed higher education as Indian academia’s infirmity. What’s of our people below age 35, we must
institutions in 80 countries. We are your institutional response to create new channel our demographic dividend
recognised as an ‘Institution of Emi- knowledge? into human development, ensure
nence’ by the Union ministry of edu- One of our most important policy quality education for all, create jobs
cation, a coveted recognition given to initiatives has been to recruit and re- of the future, and empower women
only 12 public and private universi- tain globally oriented and research- and youth.

46 EDUCATIONWORLD JULY 2025