Yale University sponsors a conference on The Future of Liberal Arts in India

Representatives and faculty from Yale University and the Yale-NUS College at Singapore, The Raman Research Institute, the Indian Institute of Human Settlements (IIHS) and the Claremont Colleges met on January 7-9 for a conference titled “Future of Liberal Arts Education in India” in Bangalore, India. The meeting brought together some of the most dynamic and imaginative leaders of higher education in India and the United States.

Attendees included the founding Vice Chancellors, Directors and Presidents of emerging new institutions in India including the Ashoka University, Azim Premji University, IIHS, the O.P. Jindal Global University and Shiv Nadar University. Faculty from the new Yale-NUS College and other institutions also attended. Pomona College President David Oxtoby and Claremont McKenna College President Hiram Chodosh were joined by faculty from Claremont Colleges, and the Yale University Director of the South Asian Studies Council Professor K. Sivaramakrishna (Shivi) led a delegation from Yale representing humanities, physics, and social sciences. Chancellors from two University of California campuses, Pradeep Khosla from UC San Diego and George Blumenthal from UC Santa Cruz, provided their perspectives. Other attendees from Yale University and Yale-NUS College included Professor Vasudha Dalmia, Mr. George Joseph, Dr. Pericles Lewis, Professor Brian McAddoo, Dr. Priya Natarajan, Mr. Teng-Kuan Ng and Professor Rajeev S. Patke.

The leaders from the US and India engaged in discussions to answer specific questions about higher education and its role in helping solve societal problems. They also discussed how to work toward future collaborations and partnerships to develop new models of undergraduate education in the US and India. The meeting aimed at exploring and discussing advances in technology, curriculum, and pedagogy that will enable a new future for Indian liberal arts education. The meeting also discussed how India can develop and build its own academic traditions that create lasting and meaningful impact for Indian society. The meeting was also an occasion to not only assess the relevance of and need for Liberal Arts education in India but also as a meeting place for pioneers to engage in an exchange of experiences and ideas. The various panels included themes on access to higher education, pluralism and religious diversity. 

Raman Research Institute hosted the meeting at its campus in Bangalore. The Organizing Committee consisted of, among others, Professor Sivaramakrishnan, Chair of South Asian Studies Council. Keynote Speakers included Ramachandra Guha, noted historian, author and thinker, and Nandan Nilekani, entrepreneur and currently chair of two key Indian government committees on technology.