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Education in general and higher education in particular empowers people and benefits societies and nations. A world-class higher education system prepares the youth for fulfilling careers, life, and lifelong learning; upskills and reskills professionals; spurs research, innovation, and start-ups; solves problems that matter to society and industries; and enables a more vibrant economy.​

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Higher education is indeed the bedrock for people, societies, and nations.  ​

​Unfortunately, India's higher education is severely underperforming. India currently has only one university in the top 500 of global rankings. In stark contrast, the United States has 127 and China has 83. 

 

India has 1.4 billion people, approximately 700 million of whom are below the age of 24 years, making up 17.5% of global humanity and 21.6% of children and youth. Thus, a case for transforming India's higher education is a win-win for India and humanity. 

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What is Nalanda 2.0 doing to address this mega challenge? Since its inception in October 2016, powered by an exceptional team of Founder & President, Board of Directors, Global Advisory Council, and a dedicated team of volunteers, Nalanda 2.0 is tackling some of the toughest challenges and opportunities facing India's higher education system. It embarked on an ambitious initiative to build a world-class multidisciplinary research university in India that would be at a similar level of excellence, scale, and scope as Stanford, MIT and Nalanda of ancient India (see President's personal message below). In the past Nalanda 2.0 was also educating stakeholders, and advising governments.

Closing the initiative to build Ekagrid - a personal note from Founder & President, Nalanda 2.0
July 24, 2024
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I’m sharing a major update: the Ekagrid Foundation Board of Directors and I have decided to close our planned university initiative. It was an ambitious initiative that I worked on from 2018 through 2024. As this chapter ends, I also wanted to share my personal reflections on the work we did and a note of gratitude.

We launched the initiative in 2018 to build a world-class multidisciplinary research university in India that would be at a similar level of excellence, scale, and scope as Stanford, MIT and Nalanda of ancient India. (note: initially the initiative was called University of the Future in India and was subsequently named Ekagrid)


Over these 6+ years, we:

1. Assembled an exceptional team of academic leaders, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and senior industry executives. Based in India, Australia, Singapore, UAE, and the US, the team included faculty or alumni of 11 of the top 25 research universities in the world.

2. Developed an actionable plan to achieve the goals after a detailed assessment of opportunities and challenges, global trends, and the future of work and education.

3. Established a Section 8 company in India and received 12A and 80G exemptions.

4. Reviewed close to 20 cities and over 30 sites in India to locate the university.

5. Engaged with the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister’s Office, Education Minister, and Chief Minister/Ministers/senior officials in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, and Telangana.

6. Met with many billionaires and ultra high-net worth individuals, corporations, and foundations globally to secure funding of $25 million-$100 million per anchor donor.

At least thrice in the last 18 months, I felt that we were close to securing an anchor donor-level funding and receiving required government support at the central and state levels to launch the university. Despite these concerted and sustained efforts over six years, we could not cross the finish line.

The case for the planned university in India has become even more compelling with the passage of time. Thus, even more so, I am disappointed by the outcome. I also feel and believe that I did everything in my personal and professional capacity to make it happen. The effort, duration, and commitment was much more than what I could have ever anticipated or planned when I convened the team in 2018.

Such an ambitious initiative could not have reached where it did without the intellectual and social heft of the team, and support of donors, well-wishers and my family and friends.

So, I end with lots of gratitude for the people who invested their time, energy, and care for the future of India and its higher education through this initiative. I am honored to have worked alongside each one of them. And I am forever grateful to have had the opportunity to try to realize this dream for my homeland and for the benefit of many.


Regards, 


Shailendra "Shail" Kumar

Founder & President, Nalanda 2.0

Convener, Ekagrid 


#India #AI #FutureReady

India's New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is now in force
July 29, 2020
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India’s New Education Policy 2020 (NEP2020), which was approved recently, is a significant step in the right direction. When implemented thoughtfully and with a sense of urgency it can make India vibrant and the lives of its people much better.

 

We are also pleased to note that since its inception in 2016 Nalanda 2.0 has been advocating many of these reforms in India’s higher education system. Nalanda 2.0 Founder & President Shail Kumar first outlined these recommendations in his book Building Golden India: How to unleash India's vast potential and transform its higher education system. Now. (published 2015) In 2017, a US-based Nobel Laureate presented this book to India’s Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi.


Our journey also included writing articles and blogs, speaking at conferences, universities and companies, and meeting with decision makers and thought leaders. (Read: our 5-point case, blogs, and articles)


Read the full report here


The Time to Reform India’s Education System is Now
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Lagging far behind developed nations in university rankings, India must transform its ailing higher education system.


Click to read article

Lessons from Nalanda University of ancient times and Stanford University of modern era for a new India
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The lessons from Nalanda of ancient India and Stanford of modern era offer a compelling roadmap to create a better future for India’s youth, society, and its economy. 


Read the article

IIT Alumni Spotlight: PANIIT USA Interviews Shail Kumar, Founder & President, Nalanda 2.0
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The IITian on his journey from IIT Kharagpur to Nalanda 2.0. 


Read the interview

​Nalanda 2.0 launches "Building the University of the Future in India" initiative
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In April, 2018, Nalanda 2.0 launched an initiative to build a world-class multidisciplinary teaching and research university. It is inspired by Nalanda of ancient India and Stanford of the 21st century. 

What can states in India learn from California, a trailblazer in knowledge economy
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One idea can change the trajectory of a state's economy and its people—create a world-class higher education system. 


Read the article


​Read the book that is the foundation for Nalanda 2.0. 
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Building Golden India: How to unleash India's vast potential and transform its higher education system. Now.  (published October 2015) Shail Kumar, Founder & President, Nalanda 2.0 is the author. This book is the fountainhead for Nalanda 2.0's mission, plans, and actions.  

 

The book includes a foreword by Desh Deshpande, Life Member, MIT Corporation, and has received international acclaim from academic and business leaders. In 2017, a US-based Nobel Laureate presented this book to India’s Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi.


Read more here

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