From Collective Will to Reimagined Education

Plaksha’s journey began in 2015, as a conversation between friends about how and why tech education needs to change According to them, a number of factors contributed to this pressing need to reimagine tech education and research.

To begin with only three Indian institutes are included in the international top 100, with the problem worsens at the macro level. 80% of Indian engineering graduates are ‘unemployable’, according to research. While education and innovation, have seen witnessed transformation in the last few decades education institutes are struggling to keep pace with the demands of the industry. This startling reality inspired this group of global entrepreneurs, business leaders, and academicians to join hands and reimagine technology education and research by taking collective action.

This need for education reform in India became central to the Plaksha founding vision: to build a university that would offer reimagined education through a new approach to technology and research. The founder collective came together around the belief that engineering education in India must evolve to equip students with the technical, human and entrepreneurial skills needed to address complex challenges.

“The edifice of Plaksha is based on the collective vision of philanthropists from across the world. What brings us together is the passion to create future leaders. Many of us are motivated by the entrepreneurial opportunities it opens up. One thing that binds us is the vision of a world class future university which can resolve real issues that Indians face, right here.”
Alok Mittal, Founder & Trustee, Plaksha

Their collective commitment is reflected not only in the philanthropic contributions, but also in their participation and engagement in all aspects of setting up an institute of global eminence. They believe that the world does not only need software developers but also, entrepreneurs, innovators, problem solvers, and tech leaders.
Plaksha leads this mission to transform and reinvent higher education in India. Plaksha’s aim is to reimagine education, research, and innovation. The University wants to be a trailblazer that motivates and challenge other universities to change their pedagogy.

“Engineering education has been the mainstay of India. India has a number of exemplary engineering institutes, but the world has transformed itself and today’s skill requirements are rather ambiguous as these require a combination of human and engineering skills. That’s where Plaksha comes in and the philosophy is reflected in the commitment of the Founders of the University.”
CP Gurnani, Founder and Trustee, Plaksha

This global community is driven by a shared vision to nurture the next generation of fearless leaders who will solve the toughest challenges.

“Plaksha’s vision is based on three pillars. The primary motive is to educate and equip a set of individuals with the skills required to take on some of the biggest challenges of the world and especially in our context, some of the biggest challenges that India faces.”
Vineet Gupta, Founder & Trustee, Plaksha

Plaksha’s shared vision is reflected in its unique pedagogy, commitment to innovation, focus on industry and academia integration.

“Education is the biggest multiplier that anybody can create. It’s not only the people that come out of it but also the world at large. I have been really passionate about the cause for India. Our attempt with Plaksha is to create a world-class forward looking University. I think Plaksha in itself is a movement which will inspire many more universities.”
Neeraj Aggarwal, Founder & Trustee

Plaksha’s strength lies in the collective action of its Founders, faculty, and students marching toward a shared vision of building a multidisciplinary future university of global eminence.

“Our ability to collaborate with universities around the world, leverage the ecosystem around us, facilitate collective philanthropy, and engage diverse minds throughout this process will help us build a truly world class university which will have a huge impact, not only for people in our country but also, for the world.”
Mohit Thukral, Founder & Trustee, Plaksha

The Content Team at Plaksha University leads storytelling, blog and website content, social media, newsletters and event coverage and press and media coverage. The team writes about the University's initiatives, academic programs, research, innovation, and the impact created by the students, faculty, and collaborators and in the process offer readers a closer look at the people and ideas shaping the future of technology education.