India lures young global faculty to bring in international perspective of research, teaching

[Chanakya's_Chant]

India lures young global faculty to bring in international perspective of research, teaching

MUMBAI: A few months ago, Bipin Rajendran returned to India after studying and working in the US for 12 years, to join IIT Bombay as an assistant professor in electrical engineering. A doctoral degree holder from Stanford University, Rajendran chose to continue his research in India.

Sharon Barnhardt, who left the Wall Street as an associate and later did her PHD in public policy at Harvard, was on the verge of accepting a job at the University of Londonwhen she realised that she could work better in her field of research if she moved to India.

In August, Barnhardt joined the public systems group at IIM Ahmedabad as a full-time faculty.

Like Rajendran and Barnhardt, Amartya Sengupta of IIT Delhi, Venky Panchapagesan of IIM Bangalore andShuchi Sinha of the department of management studies at IIT Delhi belong to a growing tribe of foreign faculty from global institutions like Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, Cornell, New York University and Princeton, for whom top Indian institutions are attractive academic homes.

The interest is among Indian-origin faculty as well as foreigners who want to work on developing country topics. Mostly in their 30s, some want to bring the education and research in India on par with world-class universities; others are driven by turbulent US economy, while more come for personal reasons. For institutes in India too, this is a huge win.

"I see many young academicians and researchers from top institutes and industries exploring long-term engagements in India," says Rajendran, who has worked at IBM's research headquarters in New York for six years.

Agrees Shuchi Sinha, assistant professor in human resource management and organisation management studies, IIT Delhi: "Several institutions have begun projecting themselves in international forums; thereby enhancing their visibility and appeal."

For some like Sengupta, assistant professor of physics at IITDelhi, apart from personal reasons, the US economy prompted him to explore options here.​

"It has become very difficult for non-US citizens to obtain faculty positions in top institutions of the country," says Sengupta, who was earlier in Princeton University.

Meanwhile, top institutes in India are going all out to attract faculty who can bring with them an international perspective of research and teaching, industry exposure and network that can help attract industrial funding for research projects.

"They complement those who are working in India," says professor Devanath Tirupati, directorin-charge and dean (academic) at IIM Bangalore.

Adds Suneet Tuli, dean, research and development at IIT Delhi: "Faculty from top global varsities can bring with them a global perspective and industry experience of working in their own start-ups abroad or in MNCs."

A case in point is Panchapagesan, associate professor, finance & control, IIM-B, who returned after 15 years in the US - teaching at Washington University in St Louis, Stern School of Business at New York University and working in two top hedge funds, Goldman Sachs Asset Management and Bridgewater Associates.

At a time the Indian education system is facing an acute shortage of quality faculty, the arrival of people with exposure in global academics and industry can bring great value.

Source:- India lures young global faculty to bring in international perspective of research, teaching - Economic Times​

 

[jaibi]

That's a good direction to take. We took the same direction under HEC, during the Musharraf era, sadly, the present and the previous government took efforts away from it.

 

[Ayush]

nice to hear that

 

[Capt.Popeye]

India lures young global faculty to bring in international perspective of research, teaching
​

MUMBAI: A few months ago, Bipin Rajendran returned to India after studying and working in the US for 12 years, to join IIT Bombay as an assistant professor in electrical engineering. A doctoral degree holder from Stanford University, Rajendran chose to continue his research in India.

Sharon Barnhardt, who left the Wall Street as an associate and later did her PHD in public policy at Harvard, was on the verge of accepting a job at the University of Londonwhen she realised that she could work better in her field of research if she moved to India.

In August, Barnhardt joined the public systems group at IIM Ahmedabad as a full-time faculty.

Like Rajendran and Barnhardt, Amartya Sengupta of IIT Delhi, Venky Panchapagesan of IIM Bangalore andShuchi Sinha of the department of management studies at IIT Delhi belong to a growing tribe of foreign faculty from global institutions like Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, Cornell, New York University and Princeton, for whom top Indian institutions are attractive academic homes.

The interest is among Indian-origin faculty as well as foreigners who want to work on developing country topics. Mostly in their 30s, some want to bring the education and research in India on par with world-class universities; others are driven by turbulent US economy, while more come for personal reasons. For institutes in India too, this is a huge win.

"I see many young academicians and researchers from top institutes and industries exploring long-term engagements in India," says Rajendran, who has worked at IBM's research headquarters in New York for six years.

Agrees Shuchi Sinha, assistant professor in human resource management and organisation management studies, IIT Delhi: "Several institutions have begun projecting themselves in international forums; thereby enhancing their visibility and appeal."

For some like Sengupta, assistant professor of physics at IITDelhi, apart from personal reasons, the US economy prompted him to explore options here.

"It has become very difficult for non-US citizens to obtain faculty positions in top institutions of the country," says Sengupta, who was earlier in Princeton University.

Meanwhile, top institutes in India are going all out to attract faculty who can bring with them an international perspective of research and teaching, industry exposure and network that can help attract industrial funding for research projects.

"They complement those who are working in India," says professor Devanath Tirupati, directorin-charge and dean (academic) at IIM Bangalore.

Adds Suneet Tuli, dean, research and development at IIT Delhi: "Faculty from top global varsities can bring with them a global perspective and industry experience of working in their own start-ups abroad or in MNCs."

A case in point is Panchapagesan, associate professor, finance & control, IIM-B, who returned after 15 years in the US - teaching at Washington University in St Louis, Stern School of Business at New York University and working in two top hedge funds, Goldman Sachs Asset Management and Bridgewater Associates.

At a time the Indian education system is facing an acute shortage of quality faculty, the arrival of people with exposure in global academics and industry can bring great value.

Source:- India lures young global faculty to bring in international perspective of research, teaching - Economic Times​

This is a somewhat 'silent change' that is taking place now. While most of the bulk of people involved are PIOs the heartening fact is that there are expatriates who are also joining up.

I did speak to some of the expatriates about this phenomenon. Some of the reasons, were very interesting though not entirely unexpected. On the professional front; the commonest reason offered up was ' a greater sense of challenge offered'.
When I responded that in fact they were attempting to travel a 'terra incognita' or uncharted territory (or at least a lesser known one) and more than that with the greater prospects of unknown results----- the answer was clear: that was the challenge. So I do discern a sense of the pioneering spirit that is driving this; not very dissimilar to the one that drove settlers west in the USA of yore or the Explorers into the darkest reaches of Africa among other things. Though the context of this is nowhere near as dramatic.
Another interesting (and less expected) response was doing it in order to widen one's own horizons or as part of one's own self education. And some were categorical to state that it will add to their own cutting-edge capabilities with all the consequent benefits to themselves in their own career graphs.

Then there was a group who already had a (somewhat strong) connection to India already. Through connections to Indian Spirituality, Philosophy, Music etc. Their physical presence in India allowed them to strengthen their connections, so they felt.

Other reasons (very common ones too) were on a lower level. The comforts that could be had for much lesser cost. For example being able to employ a Cook or live in Maid. While somebody gushed over the benefits of an "Ironing Man" who took clothes and Laundry away everyday and returned them freshly pressed!
Or the benefits of having a Chauffeur/Driver on call. Though it was added that it was a dire necessity; since few of them would dare to drive on Indian roads in the first place!!

While this is an ever growing phenomenon; it must be borne in mind that it is happening in some specific kind of places and institutions yet. But will remain a growing trend.