Azim Premji University

Azim Premji University
Motto Work towards a just, humane, equitable and sustainable society.
Established 2010
Type Private
Chancellor Azim Premji
Vice-Chancellor Anurag Behar
Academic staff
 120
Postgraduates 300 (2012)[1]
Location Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Website azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in
Azim Premji University, Admission day

Azim Premji University was established as a not-for-profit, private autonomous university under the Azim Premji University Act 2010 of the Karnataka Legislature in India.[2] The mission of Azim Premji University is to create outstanding and effective programmes of learning, research and advocacy in education, development and allied fields like health, nutrition, and livelihood. The university aims at facilitating systemic change in education and allied development areas by conducting extensive research, developing new talent, and creating domain knowledge.

The Azim Premji Foundation is the sponsor of the university. Azim Premji is the chancellor of the university and Anurag Behar is the vice chancellor.[3][4]

The university offers post-graduate courses in Education and in Development (M.A. in Education and M.A. in Development). Starting July 2015, it will offer undergraduate programme leading to a degree in Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.). Specializations will be offered in the Humanities (combined History, Literature and Philosophy), Sciences (Physics, Biology) and Social Sciences (Economics, Politics). Students will also have the opportunity to take up research and projects to obtain an honours degree. This will be a will be a full-time, three-year, residential programme.

The campus is on Hosur Road on the outskirts of Bangalore in Karnataka, India, which is a leased premise. The private campus is under construction between Attibele and Sarjapura.[5]

History

Azim Premji University was established by the Azim Premji Foundation (APF).[6] APF is a non-profit organization focused on primary education. The university was granted its charter by the Karnataka Legislative Assembly through The Azim Premji University Act of 2010.[7][8][9]

The degree programmes offered are aimed at socially committed students. The university began with the launch of two post-graduate programmes: Master of Arts in Education and Master of Arts in Development with a few specializations.[10]

The first academic session started in August 2011. The first batch of 86 students who joined in July 2011 completed their two-year program in May 2013. The university held its first convocation ceremony on 1 October 2013 at Bangalore. The governor of Karnataka, Dr. Hans Raj Bhardwaj, who is the Visitor of the University and Azim Premji, chancellor of the university, presented degrees to the first batch.[11][12][13]

The university student strength rose to 260 in the third batch inducted in July 2013. There were nearly 400 students in the two Masters programs and more than 120 faculty and staff in 2013. Nearly 50% of students were from rural areas and small towns of India, across 20 states.

Campus

Pixel Park, Azim Premji University

Azim Premji University began its operations from an interim campus on the premises of P.E.S. School of Engineering on Hosur Road in Bangalore.[14] The university operates on leased premises of over 1 lakh square feet.

A permanent campus for the university is being developed on Sarjapur Road on the outskirts of Bangalore. The new 80-acre campus will cater to a community of 3500, with staff and student residences.

Academics

Azim Premji University offers post-graduate programs in education and development. It awards Master of Arts degrees in two areas: Education and Development. Students intending to pursue a career in teaching, particularly in rural areas and in poorer urban areas, are given a preference in admissions to the programs. From the academic year 2013, the university has started offering specializations with Curriculum & Pedagogy in M.A Education and Health & Nutrition in M.A. Development.

The university will be offering two new Masters programs: M.A. Public Policy and M.A. Sustainability for the 2015-17 batch of students. There is a plan to offer undergraduate courses for the new 2015-17 students when the university moves to its own campus.

The university has identified teacher education and undergraduate programmes (undergraduate courses for the 2015-17 batch) as a key requirement in India and is preparing to offer undergraduate and Integrated Teacher Education/Masters Programs from the academic year 2015. With these new courses and programs, the university envisages around 800 students by 2014 and around 3000 students by 2017.

Library

The library, which spans over 8000 sq. ft area, has a collection of over 22,000 books and more than 150 print and online journals. The modern IT infrastructure in the library allows students and researchers to access to its catalog and e-resources through WiFi technology. The library has a comprehensive collection of print, digital and media resources on education, philosophy, psychology, sociology, development studies, law, political science, health and public policy. Online resources such as Ebsco, JSTOR, Manupatra, Questia, Sage and World Bank eLibrary are provided for the teaching and research staff.[15]

Admission process

Fees and scholarship

PG programme: In 2013, the tuition fee has been structured at Rs. 48000/- per annum, which is in line with many similar state-run educational institutions. The university extends some scholarships to help students cover their fees. The scholarships will cover part of the tuition and student accommodation related boarding and lodging expenses.

In addition to scholarships, the university offers loan repayment support for students who take up careers in the social sector or pursue higher education in related domains, and contribute through teaching, research or field engagement. This support is provided to students in forms such as interest waiver or subsidy, and part reimbursement of the loan. For the selected students, the university works out the procedure for such support on a case-by-case basis during the admission process. The university helps arrange concessional education loans for students as well.[16]

UG fee details will be updated shortly.

People

Faculty

The university has a faculty group of over 100 in varied disciplines and fields including Education, Development, Science, Social Science & the Humanities. More than 60% of the faculty have doctoral degrees in relevant domains. The student faculty ratio is 10:1.

Research and partnerships

Azim Premji University is engaged in research projects and has conducted more than 30 capacity-enhancement programs in education perspectives, leadership and academics for government functionaries. It has Memoranda of Understanding with national and state capacity development institutions such as Administrative Training Institute, Mysore[17] and National Institute of Administrative Research (NIAR) to develop capacity enhancement frameworks for government functionaries in leadership positions. The university has also partnered with Michigan State University[18][19][20] and (INET) to train education experts and, ultimately, improve India’s vast, struggling school system and to create strategies for development that have proven successful in promoting equitable growth and reducing poverty.

Vibrant academic discourse

Since its inception, the university has conducted international seminars in the area of Philosophy of Education,[21][22] and Law, Governance and Development. The first international seminar was held in January 2013. The second international seminar on Philosophy of Education was scheduled forMay 2014.

Azim Premji University has partnered with Institute of New Economic Thinking (INET)[23] and has conducted summer and winter advanced graduate workshops on development.[24]

References

  1. ↑ "Frequently Asked Questions". Azim Premji University. Retrieved 2012-06-02.
  2. ↑ "KARNATAKA ACT NO. 14 OF 2010". Retrieved 21 November 2013.
  3. ↑ "Anurag Behar is VC of Azim Premji University". Deccan Herald. March 22, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Anurag Behar is VC of Premji varsity". The Hindu. March 23, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Heights of learning". Pune Mirror. August 03, 201. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ↑ "Azim Premji Foundation".
  7. ↑ "Nod for Azim Premji University". Times of India. June 19, 2009.
  8. ↑ "Decks cleared for setting up Azim Premji University". March 13, 2010.
  9. ↑ "Azim Premji University to be set up soon in Banglore". The Times of India. December 3, 2010.
  10. ↑ http://www.azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/degree-programmes
  11. ↑ "First batch of students pass out of Azim Premji University". The Hindu. October 3, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Azim Premji University holds its first convocation". OneIndia Education.
  13. ↑ "Azim Premji varsity’s first convocation". The New Indian Express. October 6, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Campus and Community". Retrieved 21 November 2013.
  15. ↑ "Azim Premji Foundation Library".
  16. ↑ "Financial Aid and Student Support". Azim Premji University. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  17. ↑ "Azim Premji varsity, ATI-Mysore in pact". Business Line. June 13, 2013.
  18. ↑ "Video on MSU/Azim Premji University collaboration".
  19. ↑ "MSU helps transform Indian schools". Michigan State University. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
  20. ↑ "Helping India’s educators teach new lessons". Michigan State University.
  21. ↑ "Seminar series to explore philosophy of education". The Hindu. March 29, 2012.
  22. ↑ "Azim Premji University invites abstracts on Philosophy of Education". Deccan Herald. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
  23. ↑ "Azim Premji Summer School". Retrieved 21 November 2013.
  24. ↑ "Advanced Graduate Workshop On Poverty, Development and Globalization 2013". Retrieved 21 November 2013.

Coordinates: 12°51′46″N 77°39′54″E / 12.8627°N 77.6649°E