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a conscious effort to address the What are your major
‘infirmity’ you mention. One institu- initiatives to contempo-
tional objective is to transform our rise your curriculum?
students into technology leaders by We are launching
giving them research training, start- a fully overhauled
ing with undergrad B.Tech students. curriculum in 2025.
Our placements record is proof that First, we are fur-
industry acknowledges our students ther strengthening
as problem solvers. This is unprec- our superpower of
edented in Indian academia. Over 60 multidisciplinary/
percent of our undergrads engage in interdisciplinarity
R&D projects in our research centres education. Second,
and labs for two years. we are enhancing
experiential learn-
How optimistic are you about India’s ing through various
future growth and development? initiatives: field expe-
Very optimistic about India’s riences, live projects,
potential. We are the world’s most Dr. Ananya Mukherjee (centre) with SNU students immersive tech-
populous country with the world’s ment, among others. In line with this nologies, industry
largest child and youth population. vision, our objective is to remain fo- co-designed courses and bringing
However, society and government cused on our core mission. The first policy-makers and practitioners into
in particular must make substan- objective is to prepare our gradu- our classrooms.
tial and strategic investments in ates for an increasingly complex Our curricula are set within highly
research and development to fully and volatile world. For this, we are dynamic frameworks — continu-
realise our potential. Currently the strengthening our interdisciplinary ously shaped by research, dialogue,
funds we spend on research are very curriculum, encouraging students to reflection and the resolve to shape
inadequate. Mechanisms for funding break silos and develop future-focus- graduates who can solve tomorrow’s
R&D are also confusing and riddled es capabilities. The second objective problems.
with elaborate processes. If we can’t is to grow our impactful research.
address this problem quickly, we risk We are amongst the very few private How satisfied are you with your connect
falling behind other nations. universities which undertake basic, with Indian industry and business?
applied and translational research. From the start, given Mr. Nadar’s
Dr. Ananya Mukherjee We will continue to strengthen this, background as founder of HCL Tech-
Vice Chancellor, Shiv Nadar University, adding new Centers of Excellence, nologies, we have had close industry
such as in AI.
ties. Recently we established a Cen-
Greater Noida tre of Excellence in Drug Discovery
How satisfied are you with your progress in collaboration with Revvity, a
r. Ananya Mukherjee is Vice thus far? leader in biotechnology research; we
Chancellor of Shiv Nadar In just 14 years, we have emerged as have an ongoing relationship with
DDeemed-to-be University, an institution that is trusted for its Foxconn and a recently contracted
Greater Noida, conferred Institution capability to produce outstanding collaboration with ISRO. And our
of Eminence status by the Union graduates, significant research and Dassault Systemes Centre of Excel-
education ministry. An alum of a demonstrated commitment to the lence established in collaboration
Jadavpur University, Kolkata and betterment of society. This year we with the French aviation major Das-
University of Southern California are one of 26 small and comprehen- sault Aviation, is a novel academia-
(USA), Mukherjee acquired over two sive universities — with less than industry partnership. These are just
decades of rich admin and teaching 5,000 students — globally to enter a few examples. We are continuously
experience in Canada’s British the QS World University Rankings developing partnerships with public
Columbia and York universities prior and to feature in the Global Top 40 and private corporations.
to her appointment as VC at SNU in of two SDG rankings. Moreover, we
2022. have 5,000 alumni spread across the How optimistic are you about India’s
world. future growth and development?
What are the major objectives set for But we are just getting started. As I am very optimistic about India’s
SNU until India’s 100th Freedom Anniver- our founder Shiv Nadar says: Dream future growth and direction. At SNU,
sary in 2047? Big. We have collected a community we witness high potential every
To contribute towards building of faculty, students and staff whose day — in our classrooms, labs, and
Viksit Bharat by 2047, we have dreams are getting bigger every day. communities — where students and
constructed several important pil- Our trustees are all big dreamers faculty are developing cutting edge
lars: ground-breaking research and with a strong philanthropic mission technologies and solutions for India,
innovation capability; advancing for education. Quality and integrity the Global South, and beyond.
sustainability; harnessing the power define our calling: we want to create Yet we are fully aware that op-
of youth; nurturing talent and ensur- new benchmarks for how universities timism alone is not enough. Much
ing employability; women empower- create value in these volatile times. stronger collaborations are required,

56 EDUCATIONWORLD JULY 2025