Session on Academic Collaboration for Faculties

A significant discussion on academic collaboration took place at the School of Sciences, Department of Statistics & Data Science, at CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Pune Lavasa Campus, on August 5, 2025. The session, which brought together 20 faculty members, featured a comprehensive presentation by Prof. Gowribalan Ananda Vamadeva, a tenured professor from the University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College, USA. The core of the conversation revolved around creating a robust partnership that would benefit both institutions and their students. The initial part of the session focused on the current trends shaping higher education, with an emphasis on the growing demand for programs that blend theoretical knowledge with practical skills and the critical importance of a global perspective in a competitive job market.

Building on this foundation, the discussion moved towards concrete collaboration proposals. A major point of interest was the possibility of creating a dual-degree program, specifically a (3+2) model tailored for Economics Bachelor students. Under this proposed structure, students would complete the first three years of their undergraduate studies at CHRIST (Deemed to be University) before transferring to the University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College for an intensive two-year program. This would allow them to graduate with a Bachelor's degree from both institutions, significantly enhancing their academic credentials and career prospects. Additionally, a summer school program was proposed as a preliminary step, enabling students to experience the academic environment and culture of the partner university before committing to the full (3+2) program.

Furthermore, the conversation extended beyond student-centric programs to include opportunities for faculty development. Prof. Vamadeva expressed keen interest in facilitating a faculty exchange program for professors from CHRIST (Deemed to be University). This initiative would allow faculty to undertake short-term teaching or research assignments at the University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College, fostering professional growth, encouraging collaborative research projects, and promoting the exchange of best practices in pedagogy and curriculum design. This program would not only enrich the academic experience for the faculty involved but also strengthen the institutional bond and ensure the long-term success of the academic partnership. The overall consensus was that these collaborative efforts would create a dynamic academic ecosystem, preparing both students and faculty for the challenges and opportunities of the global educational landscape.

Outcome of the Event

The session on academic collaboration, featuring a discussion between faculty from CHRIST (Deemed to be University) and Prof. Gowribalan Ananda Vamadeva of the University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College, concluded with several key outcomes. The event served as a highly productive initial step in exploring a potential partnership.

The discussion yielded specific proposals for formal collaboration, including:

• The possibility of a (3+2) dual-degree program for Economics Bachelor students, which will now be explored in greater detail.
• The establishment of a summer school program to facilitate academic and cultural exchange for students.
• A plan to develop a faculty exchange program to enable CHRIST University professors to undertake teaching and research assignments at the University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College.

The event successfully laid the groundwork for a future agreement, with both institutions expressing a strong mutual interest in moving forward to formalize these proposals. The discussion highlighted a clear path for collaboration that would benefit both students and faculty through enhanced academic opportunities and professional development.