'Research funding in this country is absolutely inadequate'

Pramath Raj Sinha is chairman, board of governors, Ashoka University and founding dean of ISB Hyderabad. He is also on the boards several education institutions and helped to set up over a dozen institutions of higher education in India and abroad. He is also a founder of 9.9 group and Harappa Education. He spoke to Careers360 about Ashoka, liberal arts education, online education, and more.

- Aeshwarya Tiwari

Q. Why did you start Ashoka University and what is your vision for this university?

A. The idea was to build a university of global standards. When we embarked on this journey 15 years ago, our vision was clear. We aimed to establish India's finest university that would also have a global ranking. At that time, it was evident that most Indian universities were not among the top hundred or even the top 200. There were only a few specialized institutions like IISc and some IITs that made it to the rankings. However, these institutions primarily focused on science and engineering.

We saw a need for an institution in India that could provide top-notch education across various disciplines. Currently, many people choose to go abroad for higher education. Our aim was to create a great university within India and demonstrate that it is possible.

Q. Could you please share your journey from starting ISB to establishing Ashoka?

A. When starting ISB, our initial focus was on establishing a business school. ISB's success inspired the emergence of new universities in India. While ISB prioritises its business school, I believed in building a more comprehensive university.

[With Ashoka University,] initially, we aimed for a university with diverse disciplines, but financial constraints led us to focus on liberal arts instead. Liberal arts encompass humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, including computer science. It emphasises both breadth and depth, allowing undergraduates to explore various subjects and change their preferences. Our approach also emphasises post-admission flexibility, a crucial aspect globally but not prevalent in India.

Q. Many seem to think liberal arts students struggle to get placed. What's your take on this?