Washington University in St Louis propels novel efforts to internationalize graduate education for Indian students
The long-standing partnership of IIT Bombay and Washington University in St. Louis has been a showcase of creating access for top-quality global higher education. What comes now, is a new move to fuel WashU’s independent efforts in India to promise global careers for Indian students
Mumbai – The commencement of the 9th cohort of the joint Executive MBA(EMBA) programme between IIT Bombay and Washington University(WashU) in St. Louis also marks the launch of new initiatives by WashU in the realm of Graduate Education for Indian students.
The inaugural edition of the IIT Bombay-WashU Dialogues, a biannual congregation designed to bring together a select group of institutional leaders from top academic institutions, public intellectuals, and industry experts to deliberate upon the most significant challenges and opportunities in higher education was held recently at the IIT Bombay campus. The event witnessed dignitaries from IIT-B and WashU engage in riveting discussions, anchored around the theme of ‘New Frontiers in Graduate Education’. These insightful conversations were not only intellectually stimulating, but also provided a platform to explore the transformative role of Wash-U’s specialized master’s programmes through the Olin Business School, in preparing future entrepreneurs for the challenges posed by the age of artificial intelligence. Washington University’s specialized master’s programs are designed to keep aligned with the needs of a rapidly changing and competitive job market in the fields of business analytics, supply chain management, and finance.
Mugdha Kalra, a distinguished broadcast journalist with over two decades of experience and the Co-founder of ‘Not That Different,’ moderated the thought-provoking panel discussion on the changing contours of nurturing entrepreneurship in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). The discourse challenged the conventional paradigm of graduate programs, which historically concentrated on furnishing specialized knowledge for job placements or advanced studies. Coveted names including Prof. Markus Baer from Olin Business School, Washington University in St. Louis, Aman Goel, CEO of AHG Technologies & Cogno AI, Dr. Vikas Jain, CEO of Aarogyam Orthopaedics, and Aman Singh, Co-Founder of GradRight, shared powerful insights during the course of the discussion. The ensuing interactive Q&A session with the current Executive MBA students of the joint programme of WashU and IIT Bombay allowed students to have direct engagement with the experts, fostering a comprehensive understanding of the implications of AI on the entrepreneurial landscape. In essence, the dialogue underscored the pivotal nexus of AI and entrepreneurship in shaping the future trajectory of industries and organizations.
Gopal Shukla, CEO of the joint venture of IIT Bombay – Washington University in St. Louis, said, “I foresee this collaboration as an important milestone in the journey of producing world-class talent and future global leaders.”
Further commenting on this milestone, Prof. Markus Baer, Vice-Dean at the Olin Business School, Washington University in St. Louis, and an award-winning scholar and teacher in the field of creativity, stated, “The IITB-WashU EMBA has been creating new opportunities for working executives who wish to balance their current professional priorities with a need to upgrade or make a transition into a new phase of their careers. The Specialized Master’s Program goes a step further to nurture early-stage young professionals who are passionate about specific domains like supply chain, analytics, finance and launch them into global careers.”
The partnership is a testament to the growing need for the internationalization of higher education and is in keeping with the principle direction of the National Education Policy and the Higher Education Commission of India Bill that is under consideration by the Parliament. The collaboration signifies a transformative shift in global education, opening doors for unparalleled opportunities for talented students across India.