Boosting global research and academic collaborations, the five-year partnership includes faculty and student exchanges, joint research projects and internship opportunities
September 18, 2024, Mohali, Punjab, India, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA: Plaksha University, a leading Indian research university, recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Penn Engineering, one of the 12 schools within the University of Pennsylvania, a member of the Ivy League and the oldest university in the United States.
In alignment with both institutions’ commitment to elevating research at a global scale and bolstering their academic collaborations, this strategic partnership is set to enhance international student exchanges and foster significant advancements in research and education.
"The partnership with Penn Engineering represents a milestone for Plaksha,” says Prof. Rudra Pratap, Plaksha University’s Founding Vice Chancellor. “By combining our strengths and resources, we are creating a strong framework for collaborative research and academic exchange that will enrich our faculty and students alike. We are excited about the opportunities this partnership will unlock.”
The agreement outlines several key areas of collaboration, including the exchange of faculty, researchers and students to facilitate joint research and academic activities. Both universities will work together to share information and scholarly publications, enhancing the collective impact of their research initiatives. Additionally, the partnership will likely involve the development and implementation of cooperative research and educational programs, leveraging the expertise and resources of both institutions.
“This new partnership with Plaksha University provides an exciting opportunity for us to engage with a diverse group of talented Indian students and faculty,” says Prof. Vijay Kumar, Nemirovsky Family Dean of Penn Engineering and a member of Plaksha’s Academic Advisory Board. “We anticipate that this collaboration will not only facilitate valuable cross-cultural exchanges, but also advance joint research initiatives that address pressing global challenges, broadening the impact of Penn Engineering’s signature initiatives in engineering health, data science, and energy and sustainability.”
About Plaksha University:
Founded by a global community of more than 100 technology and business leaders, Plaksha envisions reimagining technology education and research for India and the world. With strong partnerships with UC Berkeley, Purdue, UC San Diego, IIT Kanpur, and IISc Bangalore, Plaksha aims to nurture and empower a generation of catalytic leaders and create an ecosystem of research and innovation. The university collapses the traditional boundaries of engineering and promotes interdisciplinary learning by combining technology, design and entrepreneurship.
Plaksha is guided by an eminent academic board including Dr. Vijay Kumar, Nemirovsky Family Dean of Penn Engineering, University of Pennsylvania; Venkatesh Narayanamurthi, former Dean of Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences; Sriram Rajamani, Managing Director, Microsoft Research India; Julia Ross, Dean of Engineering, Virginia Tech; Krishna Palepu, Ross Graham Walker Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School; Sanjay Sarma, Fred Fort Flowers and Daniel Fort Flowers Professor of Mechanical Engineering, MIT; and business leaders such as Neeraj Aggarwal, Chairman – Asia Pacific, BCG; Hitesh Oberoi, Co-promoter & CEO, Info Edge (Naukri.com); Srikanth Velamakanni, Co-founder, Fractal Analytics; Manas Fuloria, Co- Founder, Nagarro; Rakesh Bharti Mittal, Vice Chairman, Bharti Enterprises; Navin Chaddha, Managing Director, Mayfield Fund; Sujeet Kumar, Co-founder, Udaan.com; Dalip Pathak, Special Limited Partner, Warburg Pincus LLC; CP Gurnani, MD & CEO, Tech Mahindra; Pramod Bhasin, Chairman, Clix Capital among others. Corporate donors include companies like Bharti Foundation, Havells, HT Parekh Foundation, Mphasis, Axis Bank and Motilal Oswal. The global community of business leaders who founded Plaksha can be seen here.
About Penn Engineering:
The School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Pennsylvania is comprised of six academic departments and numerous interdisciplinary centers, institutes, and laboratories. Penn Engineering’s goal is to prepare students for leadership roles in a technological world where creativity, critical quantitative thinking, effective communication skills and a strong commitment to humane values are essential.
An Ivy League university located in the city of Philadelphia, Penn was the first of its kind, a university created for the purpose of building knowledge that would benefit the future of our country and mankind. Established in 1852 as the School of Mines, Arts and Manufactures, Penn Engineering is among the oldest engineering programs in the United States. Today, Penn Engineering is one of the University’s twelve schools, and offers degrees at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels.
Penn Engineering students have access to all that the University of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia have to offer, including hands-on research and design experience in a contiguous, urban campus. The close proximity to Penn’s other schools, including Medicine, Law, Business, and Design enables and promotes interdisciplinary collaboration. From biotechnology and nanotechnology to artificial intelligence and robotics, Penn Engineering’s research is at the forefront of scientific and technological frontiers.
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