CONNECTICUT: Ivy League research institution Yale University and New Delhi based non-profit Ashoka University are expanding their ongoing collaboration to jointly develop opportunities through faculty-initiated and faculty-directed teaching and research activities.

A Memorandum of Understanding reaffirming the long-standing collaboration between New Heaven, Connecticut based Yale and Ashoka was signed in New Delhi this week by visiting Yale University President Peter Salovey and Ashoka Vice Chancellor Rudrangshu Mukherjee.

The announcement acknowledges a relationship between the universities built over the past five years grounded in research, teaching, and mentorship, according to a media release.

During this time, Yale and Ashoka faculty, administrators, and alumni have engaged in a wide range of initiatives where Yale has contributed to advising and shaping Ashoka’s curriculum and infrastructure in admissions, development, student affairs and faculty affairs.

As part of the framework, an existing Yale-Ashoka faculty committee will work to strengthen this relationship and explore opportunities for visiting faculty, visiting students, and joint research and publications.

Yale and Ashoka will also explore innovative opportunities for student experiences in India and develop new models for research and teaching on the liberal arts and sciences within India.

Mr. Salovey applauded Ashoka’s founders and its new administration for rethinking and reimagining “the possibilities for higher education in India, in collaboration with Yale and others around the world.”

Mr. Mukherjee said: “We look forward to working together and to being enriched by the long years of experience that Yale brings in the field of research and teaching in the liberal arts.”

The Yale linkages to Ashoka have been a vital element of Yale’s engagement with India through its Yale India Initiative, the Yale South Asian Studies Council, and other research and teaching activities.

Ashoka faculty and students have often welcomed Yale faculty as visiting lecturers and guest speakers, and Yale and Ashoka have collaborated on joint conferences and programmes.

Yale administrators have also met with Ashoka leadership during their visits to New Haven to advise on best practices in a range of areas of academic administration.

Ashoka and Yale were among the collaborators on two international conferences in 2013 and 2015, in Bangalore and in New Delhi, on the future of liberal arts education in India.

Looking ahead, Yale and Ashoka faculty are in discussion on visiting appointments for Yale faculty and hosting Yale Summer Session course and Yale courses and study trips at Ashoka.

They are also planning conferences and workshops such as the Yale Modern South Asia Workshop at Ashoka; and supporting the recruitment of Ashoka faculty from Yale’s PhD students.
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