Ashoka University, Wellesley College partnership commences with student exchange programme

Three students from Ashoka University attended the Albright Institute at Wellesley College in January 2016
New Delhi, April 1, 2016: Wellesley College and Ashoka University signed a strategic partnership which aims to enable both institutions to cooperate in teaching and research, and facilitate both academic and cultural interchange.
The senior leadership team from Wellesley College visited Ashoka University on March 30, 2016 to further discuss the Memorandum of Association (MoU) between the two universities. The occasion was graced with the presence of Andrew Shennan, Provost and Dean of the College, Professor of History; Neelima Shukla-Bhatt, Associate Professor and Director of Wellesley's South Asia Studies Programme; Layli Maparyan, Katherine Stone Kaufmann '67 Executive Director of the Wellesley Centers for Women; and Joanne Murray, Founding Director of the Madeleine Korbel Albright Institute for Global Affairs; and Maria Lockheardt, International Advancement Director from Wellesley College. Ashoka University was represented by Rudrangshu Mukherjee, Vice Chancellor; Vineet Gupta, Pro Vice Chancellor and Founder; Harshbeena Sahney Zaveri, Founder and Trustee; Jonathan Gil Harris, Dean of Academic Affairs; Prof. Malabika Sarkar, Principal Advisor; Meena Wilson, Executive Director, Genpact Center of Women’s Leadership; and Madhavi Menon, Professor of English.
Wellesley College Provost, Andrew Shennan said, “Ashoka University is dedicated to value of liberal arts and educating as well as empowering women. These two missions are also central to Wellesley an as institution. When I heard about Ashoka two years ago, I sensed a strong possibility of a successful partnership between us and Ashoka. Wellesley has been increasing educational programming relating to India and believes that India is an important part of the 21st century world. Our students have to learn from India to be global citizens. We believe that both the universities will contribute to each other in many ways through their respective expertise.” The partnership was signed in phases starting early this year on January 21, 2016 when Ashoka University Founder Harshbeena Sahney Zaveri, also an alum of Wellesley College, visited Wellesley in Massachusetts, USA and her efforts have been instrumental in spearheading this partnership.
Vineet Gupta, Founder and Pro Vice Chancellor, Ashoka University remarked, “Wellesley College is a premier liberal arts college in the world and is renowned for its commitment to developing women leaders, and for providing an outstanding educational experience to its women students. We look forward to working with Wellesley and learning from Wellesley’s experience in the field of research and teaching in the liberal arts."