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Swati Munjal sustainable solutions. These experiences not only enhance
President, BML Munjal University, Gurugram empathy and social sensitivity, but also develop critical
thinking and entrepreneurial problem-solving skills —
vital for nurturing the spirit of inquiry and responsible
commerce and business management alumna of leadership. In parallel, our strong industry engagement
Delhi and Cornell (USA) universities who acquired framework embeds active learning into the curriculum.
A valuable work experience in PricewaterhouseC-
oopers and Whirlpool, Swati Munjal is President, BML How satisfied are you with your connect with Indian industry
Munjal University (BMU), Gurugram. and business?
A strong and sustained connect with Indian industry
and the social sector is perhaps BMU’s greatest strength.
Through our Practice School model, students directly
engage with companies working on live industry projects
and rural immersions, acquiring real-world exposure to
business and societal challenges. We work closely with
150-200 companies, and our partnerships are reflected in
our industry-integrated curriculums and strong place-
ment outcomes, with a growing number of recruiters
across diverse sectors participating in campus hiring.

R&D and innovation are widely perceived as Indian academia’s
infirmity. What’s your institutional response to create new
knowledge?
At BMU, we have taken a comprehensive approach to
address traditional gaps in R&D and innovation within
Indian academia. Significant financial and administrative
support — including research infrastructure, seed grants,
Swati Munjal (centre left) with BMU students & faculty professional development allowances, and incentives for
high-quality publications — has created a robust founda-
What are the major objectives set for BMU until India’s Freedom tion for faculty-led interdisciplinary research. Moreover
Centenary year? our Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (I2E)
BML Munjal University aspires to become a key con- and ACIC-BMU Propel serve as dynamic hubs for trans-
tributor to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 by nurturing lating ideas into impact, offering pre-incubation, mentor-
ethical, entrepreneurial, and socially responsible leaders. ing, seed funding, and exposure to national platforms.
Anchored in our Vision 2030, we are committed to devel-
oping the spirit of inquiry, self-esteem, and responsible What’s your prescription for transforming India into a $30 tril-
leadership — empowering students not just for careers, lion GDP economy by 2047?
but for meaningful impact on society. The journey to becoming a $30 trillion economy by 2047
must be anchored in developing human capital that is
How satisfied are you with your progress thus far? future-ready, innovative, and socially conscious. We are
We are encouraged. BMU is a values-driven, student- firm in our belief that education must not produce mere
centric institution with a strong culture of introspection, job seekers, but also job creators and changemakers. Our
innovation, and academic rigour. From a standing start, prescription is to reimagine higher education as a catalyst
we now have a vibrant, multi-disciplinary university for economic and social transformation. To achieve the
with over 3,000 students, diverse study programmes, $30 trillion goal, India must enable university-driven
and growing recognition in government, academia, and entrepreneurship, boost public and private investment in
industry. Our consistent focus on access, inclusion, and R&D, and ideate policy frameworks that reward knowl-
personalised learning is reflected in rising women’s enrol- edge creation, innovation, and social impact.
ment, increased scholarship support, and flexible learning
pathways. Dr. P.R. Sodani
That said, ten years is a short period in the life of a uni-
versity. We remain a work in progress, but are confident President, IIHMR University, Jaipur
that we’ve laid a strong foundation rooted in the right
values. postgraduate in public health with a doctorate in
health economics from the University of North
What are BMU's major initiatives to contemporise syllabus / A Carolina (USA), Prof. P.R. Sodani is the President
curricula? of IIHMR University, Jaipur and co-founder of IIHMR
At BMU, curriculum development is driven by the belief Foundation.
that meaningful education must be rooted in real-world
relevance and societal impact. A key initiative in this What are the major objectives set for IIHMR University for
direction is the integration of rural immersion across all India’s Freedom Centenary in 2047?
study programmes. Students engage deeply with grass- IIHMR University is committed to contributing mean-
roots communities to identify challenges and co-create ingfully to the nation’s development by strengthening

62 EDUCATIONWORLD JULY 2025