IU opens first global office in India

IU administration has announced the opening of its first international office that will serve as a home base for activities in India operating through IU.

The office is located in Gurgaon, India, a suburb of New Delhi, according to a recent press release.

“The gateway will provide a place for alums to go,” Vice Provost for Strategic Initiatives Munirpallam Venkataramanan said. “There are a lot of Indian students at IU, and a lot go back to their country to start businesses because of the economic boom there. It also allows us to guide studies there.”

IU Gateway-India will occupy one floor of the American Institute of Indian Studies in Gurgaon, which is located in the industrial and financial center of the North Indian state of Haryana. 

The reason behind the new gateway is in part due to alums, but also because of the new programs IU is opening in the country.

“It’s being opened because of all the programs we’re opening in India,” Venkataramanan said.  “We have students in India and we’re starting programs with Indian companies. We want to brand IU there. The third aspect is that we want to research. We go there to conduct research in the area, and the gateway will act as a hub.”

The opening of the gateway hasn’t exactly been an easy process, though. In fact, the Chronicle of Higher Education just published an article about how hard it is to open universities in India. This may be why there is such a demand for education in the country at this time, according to the article.

“India’s education needs are very high, so the opportunities are needed,” Venkataramanan said.  “There is a big need for higher education.”

Currently, IU is affiliated with nine other universities in India, creating institutional partnerships, particularly through the Kelley School of Business, the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, the Maurer School of Law and the School of Optometry, according to the press release.

“IU will have a huge global footprint with this,” Venkataramanan said. 

The gateway will be run mainly by OVTIA, with help from the IU staff. 

“Most of the time they will be here [in Bloomington], but they will be on the ground in India as well, making sure things are going well,” Venkataramanan said.

The opening reception of the gateway will take place in the American Institute of Indian Studies in Gurgaon on Feb. 27.