Office of Global Education: Shaping Ashoka’s International Academic Landscape

Ashoka University’s Office of Global Education (OGE) is committed to creating and nurturing a truly international and diverse academic environment at Ashoka. Our mission is to support and enhance student mobility, both inward and outward, facilitating transformative global learning experiences. We take pride in hosting students from various countries, including high-performing individuals from top-tier institutions like Ivy League universities.

At the same time, we ensure that our students have access to the world’s leading academic institutions by facilitating exchanges and placements at globally renowned universities. Our vision is to expand the reach of Ashoka University and promote its academic offerings to as many regions as possible, strengthening our global presence and forging meaningful international partnerships.

By empowering students with opportunities to engage in cross-cultural learning and research, we aim to cultivate a more connected, dynamic, and globally aware academic community. Key Focus Areas of OGE:

• Outbound Mobility: Curating transformative summer and semester programmes, exclusive global opportunities, and research collaborations for Ashoka students.
• Inbound Mobility: Expanding inbound programmes by hosting exchange students, designing dynamic summer courses, and pioneering standalone summer research initiatives.
• Partnership Development: Strengthening and advancing global student mobility through strategic international partnerships.

Building Robust Partnerships
Ashoka University has built a dynamic global network with 60+ international partnerships spanning 21 countries across five continents. These collaborations extend across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, providing students and faculty with rich academic and research opportunities. With 27 partnerships in the USA, Ashoka’s global footprint includes prestigious institutions like Yale University, Cornell University, UC Berkeley, Boston University, UPenn and Johns Hopkins University. In the UK (7 partners), collaborations include Cambridge University, King’s College London, and the London School of Economics. Across Europe (17 partners), Ashoka has established ties with Sciences Po (France), University College Dublin (Ireland), Ghent University (Belgium), and the University of Groningen (Netherlands), among others. Expanding further, Ashoka University partnered with institutions in Canada, Australia, Switzerland, Mexico, Hong Kong, Taiwan, New Zealand, and Japan.

These partnerships promote semester exchanges, summer programmes, research collaborations, and faculty engagement, ensuring that Ashoka students gain a truly global academic experience. Ashoka University continues to expand its global footprint by forging new partnerships and strengthening existing collaborations with leading universities worldwide. This year, Ashoka signed and renewed agreements with several prestigious institutions, including Boston University, the University of Birmingham, International Christian University (Japan), the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Concordia College, the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC), the University of South Florida, Hult International Business School, the University of Oregon, and Johns Hopkins University, among others.

In addition to these relationships, Ashoka is actively working on establishing new collaborations with University College London, the University of Liverpool, Emory University, and Clark University. These partnerships will further enrich student exchange opportunities and academic collaborations.

Charting the Way Forward
The Office of Global Education at Ashoka is committed to expanding student mobility programmes, providing its students with transformative international experiences, and attracting students from around the world to its vibrant campus, offering exciting opportunities.

As part of its commitment to internationalisation, the Office of Global Education (OGE) is actively participating in global events to promote Ashoka’s programmes and expand its reach. A recent highlight was the NUS Go Global Fair, where Gitanjali Rana, Director of the Office of Global Education, represented Ashoka University.

Engaging with inquisitive and enthusiastic students, she introduced Ashoka’s Visiting Students Programme – a unique opportunity for international students to experience the university’s interdisciplinary liberal arts and sciences curriculum, vibrant campus life, and India’s rich cultural heritage. The fair provided an excellent platform to connect with prospective students, promoting interest in Ashoka’s offerings and strengthening its global presence.

At Ashoka, we are dedicated to building meaningful global connections, and our participation in such events is a testament to our commitment to expanding cross-border academic exchange and collaboration. With each step, we continue to bridge cultures, creating a dynamic and diverse learning community.

(This blog has been written by Gitanjali Rana, Director, Office of Global Education, Ashoka University)