The perfect plan
A first of its kind, this multidisciplinary research oriented university has been set up by the not-for-profit Shiv Nadar Foundation.
Built on a 286 acre campus in Greater Noida, the Shiv Nader University is all set to open its gates for students this academic session. A first of its kind, this multidisciplinary research oriented university has been set up by the not-for-profit Shiv Nadar Foundation. This merit- based and need-blind university will begin its academic programme with the launch of its school for engineering.
On the eve of this landmark moment in the Indian education segment, Shiv Nadar, founder, HCL and chairperson, Shiv Nadar foundation, along with Dr. Nikhil Sinha, founding vice chancellor, Shiv Nadar University, discuss their idea, concept, vision and expectations from the university with Devika Jeet.
Right track
Shiv Nadar: The fundamental decision behind all our philanthropic endeavours was because of my mother. Her gentle push and coaxing made me realise that god has been very generous and now I should give back to society. My father was a judge with limited income but my mother would still put away small amounts of money or clothes for philanthropy. As a child, I watched and learnt from her.
My mother suggested opening an educational institute and we set up our first institute in Chennai. Today, S.S.N. College of Engineering is one of the foremost private engineering institutes in Tamil Nadu. There is no capitation fee and no one can buy a seat in the institute. This makes the students feel proud.
The college caters to students from across the country with a nearly equal sex ratio. We provide opportunity to capable students and from this institute came the idea of building a university.
To make a difference
Shiv Nadar: I saw my daughter when she went to study for an undergraduate degree to America and two years into the course she completely switched her subject. We felt that this should be available to students in India also and we should widen the education scope. We want students to have a diversity of choices of subjects. They should be able to study subjects they are interested in. An engineering student can have the choice to study philosophy and physics also.
We chose to build the university in the state where HCL grew, Uttar Pradesh. We owe it to this land and wanted to give back to society from here itself. Noida was born in 1976 so was HCl and so were the first computers of the world. Modern computers were born that year and the first personal computers in the world have been built in Noida. We owe it to the community here and now want to give back to them.
Nikhil Sinha: We are building a unique path breaking institution and want it to be seen as a flagship university in India. At present we are not considering any multiple flagships. But, as far as global education is concerned, it is critical that the university build relations with other educational insituations across the globe.
Global outlook
Nikhil Sinha: The University will offer a four-year undergraduate multidisciplinary programme and will broaden the existing Indian education system. Students will have the option of taking core courses, engage in intellectual discovery and will be able to graduate in subject matter expertise needed for their jobs. The University is built on our pedagogical structure and philosophy. This structure is very similar to the ancient Indian education system. India created the multidisciplinary system- Nalanda and Takshila-not completely alien to Indian tradition.
Shiv Nadar University will emphasize teaching ethics and service as part of the curriculum. Experiential learning, internships and social service will also be part of the study programme. We will not ape the American system but leap frog it, to take the best of both and craft a University according to our need and requirements.
Shiv Nadar: We have a blank sheet and an opportunity to learn from universities across the globe. We have looked at the education systems and institutes of various countries, such as, England, German, Singapore, China, Japan and Australia. We have developed an understanding about how to provide broad based wellrounded education. We will be part of a global trend, setting an example in India.
Money wise
Nikhil Sinha: The fee structure of any institute must reflect the value of an education that is provided. But the university has to ensure that the students are eligible for an education purely based on merit.
Shiv Nadar: We are a need-blind institute, if scholastic requirements are met. Any student who qualifies for admission, the university will provide financial resources to start and complete the programme. Even the poorest will be able to afford it. Nobody eligible will never not be able to attend the university because of financial problems.
This is an institution whose endeavour is to serve society and it must be able to give back. It is very clearly stated that the institute is a not-for-profit university.
Scope for excellence
Nikhil Sinha: I have nothing against the way people are taught under the current system. It serves a purpose. Institutions believe and have a pedagogical philosophy that they think is the best and educate students in manners appropriate.
We have a different view and mission. The way we change things is a product of our view for our institution rather than a criticism of the way others teach. As chairman Mao Zedong said, "Let a thousand flowers bloom".
Shiv Nadar: The university is backed by a well endowed foundation; one of the largest in the country. The university is not build for profit but in the long term it has to be sustainable. This will be achieved not only by how it teaches but also how it researches.
One way to ensure that teachers continue to research is that, any faculty member teaching for over five years will have to enrol for a Ph.D. We want to recruit faculty with Ph.D degrees or someone who will register and start working on their research. To excel as a research based industry we require professors with a certain bent of mind.
Sneak peek
The Shiv Nadar University is located on a 286 acre campus with over 1.8 million sq. feet of built up area.
This year, the university will take in 200 students and will reach its full capacity of 10,000 students over the next 10 years.
The university will begin its academic year with the engineering school and will roll out four more schools in the coming years, namely business, humanities, natural and social science.
Reproduced From India Today. © 2011. LMIL. All rights reserved.
