Nalanda 2.0 has an exceptional team Board of Directors, and Global Advisory Council consisting of leaders from the academia, industry and civil society. The team collectively has leadership, academic, administrative, and educational experiences from several world-class multidisciplinary research universities such as Stanford, Harvard, UC Berkeley and UC San Diego, and India's premier institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). Team also includes a growing group of volunteers and supporters.
empowering people. benefitting society.
Nalanda 2.0 mission is to make India’s higher education system world-class. A world-class higher education system solves problems that matter to society and industries, prepares the youth for fulfilling careers, life, and lifelong learning, upskills and reskils professionals, spurs research, innovation, and start-ups, and enables a more vibrant economy.
Unfortunately, India's higher education is in crisis. (read the link for a detailed case and six key metrics that point to the crisis.) In a post-COVID-19 world, Nalanda 2.0’s mission is more important and urgent than ever before. With 1.4 billion people in India, which is close to 1/6th of world's population, Nalanda 2.0’s mission is a win-win for India and its people and the global humanity.
What is Nalanda 2.0 doing to advance this mission? 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 is building a world-class multidisciplinary research university, educating stakeholders, and advising governments.
What are Nalanda 2.0 plans for 2022-2023? Our single minded focus is to launch Ekagrid as soon as possible. Ekagrid (www.ekagrid.org) was previously referred to as the University of the Future in India (UFI). Ekagrid will begin by launching the Global Institute for Artificial Intelligence, College of Computing, and College of Health and Life Sciences. Once it establishes these steeples of excellence, Ekagrid will expand its scope and scale to become a comprehensive and multidisciplinary research university.
How can you help? Make a donation here and now and join over 1100 donors whose support has been instrumental in advancing Nalanda 2.0’s mission. Read President's letter, Oct. 2022 (click here) and President's report, Oct. 2021 report (click here). Your gift to Nalanda 2.0 will fuel the launch of Ekagrid, enable game-changing impact for youth, industry, society and the nation, and create a lasting legacy like Nalanda of ancient India and Stanford of the 21st century. Thanks!
This festive and giving season give a gift to Nalanda 2.0 and help launch Ekagrid
October 25, 2022
This festive and giving season, make a gift to Nalanda 2.0 and fuel the light that will help build Ekagrid, a first-of-its-kind multidisciplinary research university in India. https://www.nalanda2.org/give-now
(Nalanda 2.0 is a 501c3 nonprofit organization)
India urgently needs many world-class multidisciplinary research universities that are similar in scale, scope, and level of excellence and impact as MIT, UC Berkeley, and Stanford. Fortunately, India has a rich tradition and history of creating and benefiting from such universities. Nalanda of ancient India is one such example. Unfortunately, post-independent India has so far been unable to build such universities.
Ekagrid will have a transformative impact on students, industry, nation, and humanity!
The vision of Ekagrid is to be in the Top 25 of global rankings by 2050 and have faculty and alumni win global awards such as the Nobel Prize and the Turing Award. Ekagrid's mission is to solve problems that matter to society and industry, create new knowledge, spur innovation and entrepreneurship, up-skill and re-skill professionals, and prepare students for their careers, lives, and life-long learning.
Launched in 2018 as a Nalanda 2.0 initiative, Ekagrid’s (https://www.ekagrid.org) highlights include:
Assembled an exceptional team. This includes academic and technology leaders, government policymakers, industry executives, and entrepreneurs. Based in India, Australia, Singapore, UAE, and the US, they are faculty or alumni of 11 of the top 25 research universities in the world.
Developed a high-impact and actionable vision, mission, and plans. The plans will enable economic prosperity, national security, and societal well-being from launch to maturity.
Established a Section 8 company. It has received 12A and 80G exemptions, registered its trademarks, and has a core administrative structure.
Signed an MoU with a world-class multidisciplinary research university in the USA.
Signed MoUs with the Government of Karnataka for acquiring 200 acres of land in Bengaluru and Ekagrid University Act.
The key next step is to raise at least INR 1200 Cr./US$150M in private philanthropic funding to launch and build Ekagrid’s phase 1. We are in discussions with several donors and expect to secure the necessary funding in the near future.
It has taken much more time, effort, and persistence than we had anticipated. The COVID-19 pandemic, which started in March 2020, and the Ukraine-Russia crisis, which started in late Feb. 2022, have significantly impacted these timelines.
Thanks to the team, over 1,100 donors, friends, and well-wishers, we have weathered these storms and are well poised to launch Ekagrid in Bengaluru as soon as we secure the Phase 1 funding.
Ekagrid is a fitting gift to celebrate India’s 75th year of independence and propel the nation and its people toward a more vibrant future.
Join us in enabling India’s economic prosperity, national security, and societal well-being, and helping launch Ekagrid by making a gift to Nalanda 2.0. Your gift will enable Nalanda 2.0 to continue the efforts to secure necessary funding to launch Ekagrid.
Donations can be made via either:
PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/3366555
Your company giving portal: Nalanda 2.0 is eligible for the employee-matching program in companies such as Google, Microsoft, Intel, Adobe, Applied Materials, Sony, LinkedIn, NVIDIA, Synopsis, Cisco, VMware, Salesforce, TIAA, T-Mobile, and Apple. Check your company's giving website and multiply your giving to Nalanda 2.0.
Check: Make the check payable to Nalanda 2.0, P.O. Box 14841, Fremont, CA 94539.
Thanks!
Prof. Arogyaswami Paulraj, Professor-Emeritus, Stanford University is the founding Chancellor of the planned university
February 17, 2021
The formal name of the University of the Future in India (UFI) is now Ekagrid. (https://www.ekagrid.org)
We are delighted to share that Dr. A. Paulraj, Professor-Emeritus, Stanford University will be the founding Chancellor of the planned university. Dr. Paulraj is the inventor of MIMO wireless technology, which underpins all 4G, 5G, and WiFi networks, globally. He has won several prestigious international awards such the IEEE Alexander Graham Bell Medal and the Marconi Prize. He is also a recipient of Padma Bhushan. Dr. Paulraj embodies the vision and values of the planned Ekagrid University and will help set the benchmark for excellence.
Shailendra 'Shail' Kumar, Founder and President of Nalanda 2.0, will be the founding Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Development Officer.Mr. Kumar is the Author of Building Golden India: How to unleash India’s vast potential and transform its higher education system. Now. Formerly, co-founder and CEO of two start-ups, executive in several Silicon Valley-based high-tech companies, and administrator in UC San Diego and UC Berkeley. He is the convener of the university initiative.
The Time to Reform India’s Education System is Now
Lagging far behind developed nations in university rankings, India must transform its ailing higher education system.
Lessons from Nalanda University of ancient times and Stanford University of modern era for a new India
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.
IIT Alumni Spotlight: PANIIT USA Interviews Shail Kumar, Founder & President, Nalanda 2.0
Nalanda 2.0 launches "Building the University of the Future in India" initiative
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
One idea can change the trajectory of a state's economy and its people—create a world-class higher education system.
Read the book that is the foundation for Nalanda 2.0.
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.
Nalanda 2.0 is partnering with QuestionPro. QuestionPro's advanced survey features powers our data intelligence, allowing us to create surveys, collect responses, distribute critical information, and analyze results.