CMU to expand program in India
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Carnegie Mellon University's decision to offer undergraduate engineering degrees in India could better position the school to one day open a branch there if the country's parliament votes to allow that level of foreign university expansion.
But even if a branch is not in CMU's ultimate plans, officials on Thursday pointed to advantages to this latest initiative, announced Thursday, involving the world's second most populous nation.
Among other things, it could help CMU better compete for classroom prospects by offering them what most foreign engineering students do not receive from American universities: Financial aid, courtesy of an Indian foundation that is working with CMU.
The classes, to be split between Pittsburgh and India, also would give American students a perspective that could make them more attractive to firms establishing research centers in India as its economy surges.
The university and Shiv Nadar Foundation announced their partnership during a signing ceremony seen by video conference in Pittsburgh and in Indian locations including New Delhi.
Under the plan, undergraduates in mechanical engineering and electrical and computer engineering will start their studies in June guided by a curriculum created at CMU and taught by faculty of India's SSN College of Engineering campus in Chennai, who were trained at CMU.
Both CMU and the foundation already have a partnership involving delivery of a graduate program in embedded systems, said Pradeep Khosla, dean of CMU's college of engineering.
Dr. Khosla said the initial undergraduate class would likely be small -- about 10 to 15 students -- with the goal of reaching 100 per year within five years.
A number of prominent universities already have expressed interest in expanding into India, or at least deepening their strategic ties there, given the country's rapidly growing economy and sheer size.
First Published November 12, 2010 12:00 am
