Activities

Global Engagement Hosts Prof. Ashwin Rao (Stanford) for Academic Collaboration Discussions

Date : May 30th, 2026

The Office of Global Engagement at Chanakya University proudly welcomed Prof. Ashwin Rao, Adjunct Professor at Stanford University and Executive Vice President of AI Tech at o9 Solutions, for a comprehensive day of high-level academic interactions and strategic discussions across multiple schools of the University. This significant visit highlights Chanakya University’s ongoing commitment to fostering global academic engagement, driving technological innovation, and building meaningful partnerships with globally recognized scholars and industry leaders.

The visit commenced with an initial briefing between Prof. Rao and Dr. Ravikant Ranjan (Associate Director, Global Engagement). This was immediately followed by a detailed roundtable discussion with Prof. Dileep Prabhakar Jatkar, Dean of the School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (SMNS), alongside faculty members. The core focus of this session centered heavily on the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, and advancing interdisciplinary research across mathematics, computing, and natural sciences, while creating robust avenues for future academic and industrial research collaborations.

Continuing the day’s itinerary, Prof. Rao engaged extensively with the School of Engineering in a session led by Prof. Shobana Padmanabhan, Director of Academics, and engineering faculty members. The dialogue targeted the critical need to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world technology deployments by focusing on industry-linked engineering education, AI-driven innovation, digital transformation, and curriculum development. Following the formal session, Prof. Padmanabhan and the faculty hosted Prof. Rao for a networking lunch, creating informal setting for continued dialogue and the exchange of modern pedagogical ideas.

Drawing from his extensive experience at the intersection of elite academia and enterprise technology leadership, Prof. Rao shared invaluable insights on the shifting demands of the global tech workforce and the precise skills required for future-ready graduates.

Moving forward, faculty members across the University explored concrete roadmaps for sustained future engagement, detailing opportunities for guest lectures, mentoring, collaborative projects, and joint industry-academia initiatives. Ultimately, the visit served as a powerful platform for intellectual exchange, reinforcing Chanakya University’s mission to deliver globally integrated education and stay at the forefront of technological advancement through meaningful partnerships.

University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) and Chanakya University Explore Strategic Academic Collaboration 

Date : February 15th, 2026

Chanakya University continues to advance its global engagement initiatives through a recent meeting between Mr. Adam Holden, Director of International Partnerships & Recruitment at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), USA and Dr. Ravikant Ranjan, Associate Director- Global Engagement, Chanakya University, where they explore avenues for institutional collaboration. 

Mr. Holden, who leads UMBC’s international partnerships and recruitment strategy, serves as the university’s primary contact for global institutional collaborations. His role focuses on promoting and strengthening the international dimensions of teaching, research, and service at UMBC. 

During the meeting, Dr. Ranjan presented an overview of Chanakya University’s academic initiatives, interdisciplinary programs, pedagogical framework, and emerging research strengths. Both institutions recognized strong alignment in their academic philosophy, commitment to student success, and emphasis on global engagement. 

The discussions explored potential collaboration in areas including student exchange and academic progression pathways, research mobility and faculty engagement, short-term academic visits, and structured hosting of visiting scholars. The institutions also examined innovative collaboration models such as Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) and other blended formats to facilitate scalable academic interaction. 

In addition, both sides expressed interest in formalizing mutual intent for collaboration by non-binding agreement and establish a framework for sustained academic cooperation and potential joint initiatives. 

This meeting marks a meaningful step toward strengthening transnational academic partnerships and expanding opportunities for students and faculty at both institutions. Chanakya University looks forward to continued dialogue and the development of pilot initiatives that reflect shared institutional priorities. 

Exploring Strategic Collaboration: Gupta-Klinsky Institute for India (GKII), Johns Hopkins University, Visits Chanakya University 

Date : January 22nd, 2026

Chanakya University recently hosted a delegation from the Gupta-Klinsky Institute for India (GKII), Johns Hopkins University, for an in-depth dialogue on advancing strategic academic and research collaborations. The visit marked an important step toward aligning institutional visions and exploring pathways for formal partnership. GKII recently hosted Dr. Somanath, Chancellor of Chanakya University, at Johns Hopkins University, where he delivered a seminar on “The Changing Landscape of Higher Education in India.” 

The GKII delegation, comprising Mr. Kunal Pal, Executive Director, and Ms. Beth Romanski, Program Manager, engaged with senior leadership, administrators, and faculty members of Chanakya University in a series of meaningful discussions. 

The Gupta–Klinsky Institute for India (GKII) at Johns Hopkins University fosters strategic collaboration between Johns Hopkins University and India’s leaders across government, academia, and the private sector to advance knowledge and deliver high-impact solutions for India. 

The delegation met with Prof. Dongre, Vice Chancellor, Chanakya University, to discuss institutional vision, shared values, and opportunities for building high-impact, sustainable collaborations aligned with national and global priorities. 

The visit was coordinated by Dr. Ravikant Ranjan, Associate Director – Global Engagement, who led discussions on potential collaboration frameworks, partnership modalities, and the roadmap toward a formal agreement between the two institutions. 

Detailed and engaging discussions were held at the School of Biosciences with Prof. Subramanya, Dean, School of Biosciences and Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Shobhana Padmanabhan, Director, School of Engineering, along with faculty members from the School of Biosciences.  

The discussions focused on GKII’s flagship initiatives, their implementation mechanisms, and the support structures GKII can offer to young and ambitious faculty members, particularly in strengthening research capacity, leadership development, and international academic exposure. 

Key areas of discussion included the India RISE Fellowship, with a focus on mentorship, leadership development, and joint academic programming; research collaboration, integrated public health, and community engagement initiatives. 

Opportunities for joint research grants, faculty collaboration with Johns Hopkins University and GKII partners, hosting JHU PhD students at Chanakya University for India-focused research and fieldwork, and possibilities for joint teaching and online academic engagements were also explored.

Both institutions expressed a shared interest in advancing the engagement toward a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support and implement joint research initiatives, faculty collaboration, and funding opportunities. 

This visit underscores Chanakya University’s commitment to meaningful global engagement and its focus on empowering faculty and students through impactful international collaborations. 

Chanakya University Hosts Delegation from the University of California, Santa Barbara 

Date : January 8th, 2026

Chanakya University hosted Prof Umesh Mishra on 8 January 2026 as part of its global engagement initiatives. The visit included interactions with the University’s senior leadership, including Chancellor Dr. Somanath and Vice Chancellor Prof. Dongre, focusing on institutional priorities and international collaboration. 

Prof. Umesh K. Mishra is the Dean of The Robert Mehrabian College of Engineering and a distinguished Richard A. Auhll Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), internationally recognized for his pioneering research in gallium nitride (GaN) electronics and high-speed semiconductor devices. 

He also visited the School of Engineering, where discussions were held with faculty members on potential areas of academic and research engagement. The programme included a guided campus tour, offering insights into Chanakya University’s academic environment and infrastructure. 

Guest Lecture by Prof. Shreesh Mysore, Johns Hopkins University 

Date : December 29th, 2025

Chanakya University hosted Prof. Shreesh Mysore from Johns Hopkins University for an academic talk that drew active participation from students and faculty members across multiple disciplines. The session was noted for its engaging and interdisciplinary nature, offering valuable perspectives that resonated with diverse academic audiences. 

During the visit, discussions were also held with Prof. Shobana, Head of the School of Engineering, on potential future engagements. These included opportunities for faculty interaction, curriculum enrichment, and academic collaboration under Chanakya University’s Faculty Development Program. The visit laid the foundation for continued academic exchange and deeper engagement with Johns Hopkins University in the future. 

Representative of Luxembourg School of Business visited Chanakya University 

Date : December 17th, 2025

Dr. Megha Agrawal from the Luxembourg School of Business visited Chanakya University to engage with faculty, scholars, and young researchers on interdisciplinary approaches to academic research problems. Hosted by Prof. Chetan, Dr. Agrawal delivered a talk titled “Think Interdisciplinary, Think Big!” and participated in discussions on online engagement, collaborative teaching, student exchange, and the concept of a studio course. The session also explored the potential for a formal agreement (MoU) to further strengthen academic collaboration between the two institutions.