- With this, Anant also becomes India’s first university to collaborate with da Vinci Center Shift Retail Lab – an initiative undertaken by Virginia Commonwealth University which reimagines entrepreneurship training among students, alumni and community founders
- The MoU will allow students and faculty members from the two universities to visit one other and gain exposure to a wide range of scenarios
- Both universities emphasize multidisciplinary collaboration, research, and community engagement, aiming to bridge academic and cultural gaps while generating new knowledge and global perspectives
GOWRI MANICKAVASAGAM
AHMEDABAD, AUGUST 7
In a new development that furthers Anant National University’s (ANU) commitment to advancing internationalisation of education in alignment with the New Education Policy (NEP), India’s innovative DesignX University based in Ahmedabad, has on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with US-based Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU).
This strategic partnership aims to drive innovation and community engagement across media and entertainment, arts and product design, health research and entrepreneurship projects. With this, Anant also becomes India’s first university to collaborate with da Vinci Center Shift Retail Lab – an initiative undertaken by Virginia Commonwealth University which reimagines entrepreneurship training among students, alumni and community founders. The lab is a real-world space for students to peddle their wares and collect feedback from would-be customers. This will hone their entrepreneurship skills under the mentorship of global gurus.
The MoU signing ceremony was attended by distinguished representatives from both universities. Dr. Michael Rao, President of VCU; Dr. Jill Blondin, Associate Vice Provost for Global Initiatives; and Dr. Garret Westlake, Associate Vice Provost for Innovation and Executive Director of the da Vinci Center for Innovation, were present from VCU. The event also saw the presence of Amrutbhai Patel, former Gujarat State Chief Information Commissioner, alongside members of the Anant community, including faculty, administrators, and students.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Anunaya Chaubey, Provost, Anant National University said, “We are very excited about this collaboration, as it is founded on the shared values, vision and purpose of the two institutions. VCU and Anant are committed to serving the community, changing lives for the better and making a global impact.”
Answering a query on the criteria for students’ exchange and the English language eligibility for global education, Dr Anunaya Chaubey said, “The criteria for students’ exchange is being worked out. Even though we admit students on the basis of entrance test in regional languages, our language lab equips them well to have good command over English.”
Highlighting the significance of the collaboration Dr. Michael Rao, President of Virginia Commonwealth University, said, “Anant and VCU share similar synergy and the desire to make an impact. I am confident that this collaboration will devise solutions to problems that truly matter and do great things.”
The collaboration between Anant and VCU underscores a mutual commitment to fostering creativity, innovation, and real-world learning. Both universities emphasize multidisciplinary collaboration, research, and community engagement, aiming to bridge academic and cultural gaps while generating new knowledge and global perspectives.
Aligned with India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which highlights the importance of internationalization, this collaboration aims to enhance global competitiveness and attract international students. By integrating global knowledge systems, the partnership will elevate the quality of higher education in India. Through faculty and student exchanges, joint research projects, and entrepreneurial initiatives, Anant and VCU will enrich teaching and learning experiences, positively impacting local communities and fostering significant academic and professional growth.
ANU is a private university set up in 2016 and offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in design, architecture and built environment. VCU is a public research university based in Richmond in Virginia with a 186-year legacy, and ranks among the top 20 most innovative universities, according to the US News and World Report.
