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Strengthening links through inaugural Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø India Summer School

23 June 2024

Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø connected with Indian students, alumni and partners during a week of activities including the launch of our first ever India Summer School.

Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø and The British School New Delhi staff with students at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø's inaugural India Summer School

From 10-14 June, Indian pre-university students got a taste of what it's like to study at a world-leading UK university during the inaugural Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø India Summer School. Based at the cutting-edge campus of The British School New Delhi, leading Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø professors ran research-led teaching sessions for small groups of prospective students from across the country on a range of interdisciplinary topics.

The same week, more than 100 members of Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø’s alumni community came together at receptions in Mumbai and New Delhi,ÌýrenewingÌýrelationships, growing their networks and sharing ideas for Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø’s upcoming bicentennial celebrations.

Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø Senior LeadershipÌýProfessor Geraint Rees (Vice-Provost,ÌýResearch, Innovation & Global Engagement) andÌýKirsty Walker (Vice-President, External Engagement) also connected with longstanding partners and supporters, including the British High Commissioner to India.

Celebrating the Summer School

At the Summer School, study pathways on a range of topics were delivered by Dr Michael Collins (Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø History), Professor Priti Parikh (Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment), Professor Daniel Richardson (Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø Brain Sciences), Professor John Hurst (Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø Medical Sciences), Dr Tim Beasley-Murray (Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø Arts & Humanities), Dr Manzur Rashid and Nidhi Chaudhary (both Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø Engineering). These included:

  • Psychology and the Human Brain
  • Medical Sciences and Artificial Intelligence
  • Creative and Cultural Industries
  • Management, Business and Law
  • Climate Change and Cities of the Future
  • Public Policy in Science, Engineering and TechnologyÌý

Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø alumni Anika Dhawan, Akshat Khandelwal and Mandeep Singh chatted to participants about their experiences of studying in London, applying to universities and forging careers after graduation. Current undergraduates also took part, including third year student Adya Chetiya from Delhi, who live-streamed from Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø’s Bloomsbury campus for a virtual tour and Q&A.

Alison Barrett MBE, Country Director for the British Council in India, and Vishu Sharma, Senior Project Manager - Higher Education, British Council also addressed the students as part of the programme. At the end of the week, participants enjoyed a high tea and certificate presentation with Professor GeraintÌýRees andÌýKirsty Walker.

Dr Michael Collins, who oversaw development and delivery of the Summer School, said: "India is a remarkable country. It was an absolute privilege to work on the Summer School curriculum design and planning, and then lead the teaching team in Delhi, seeing the whole thing come to life. As is so often the case, it was the people that made the difference: Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø leaders' willingness to explore new ideas, inspirational Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø professors, unyielding energy from the Indian students, and a consummately professional local partner in the form of The British School New Delhi."

Kirsty Walker, Vice-President (External Engagement) said: "Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø has a fantastic global community of staff, alumni and students and we were delighted to give pre-university students from across India a taste of what it's like to study with us this week. I hope to welcome many on campus soon."

Vanita Uppal OBE, Director, The British School New Delhi, said: "A shared vision of making exceptional, multidisciplinary learning opportunities available to students from across the country makes the partnership between The British School New Delhi and the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø India Summer School truly special. Our shared values of nurturing global citizens who are compassionate and principled critical thinkers came to fruition over the five-day inaugural Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø Summer School here at The British School New Delhi. Witnessing the learner outcomes and their engagement, this is a story with a sequel for sure!"

Reconnecting with alumni and partners

Senior leadership enjoyed meetings with Indian partners, including the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore to discuss plans to support India’s healthcare sector, focusing on medical technology, big data, and clinician-scientist training.

In New Delhi, Kirsty Walker and Geraint Rees met with the British High Commissioner to India, Lindy Cameron;ÌýFirst Secretary Science and Deputy Head of the India Science Tech and Innovation Network, Jack Landers;Ìýand Country Director for the British Council in India,ÌýAlison Barrett MBE.ÌýThey explored opportunities for future collaboration, underscoring the mutual commitment to enhancing educational and research ties between the UK and India.Ìý

At the alumni receptions, guests heard speeches from Professor Geraint Rees, Kirsty Walker and Dr Michael Collins, who spoke about his research into Indo-British relations and Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø’s relationship with the country.

The Summer School marks Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø's ongoing commitment to collaborating with India. Later this year, the first recipients of the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø India Excellence Scholarships will arrive on campus. The scheme aims to support Indian students with an outstanding academic record to pursue full-time Master's degree studies at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø.
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Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø has a thriving community of nearly 1,000 Indian students and more than 3,000 alumni in India. Udit Singhal, an alum of both Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø and The British School New Delhi, was recently featured on Forbes India’s 30 Under 30 list, recognised for pioneering an innovative and environmentally friendly technology that converts used glass bottles into sand through his company Glass2Sand.

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  • Featured image: Vice-President (External Engagement) Kirsty Walker, Vice-Provost (Research, Innovation & Global Engagement) Professor Geraint Rees, Dr Michael Collins and Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø colleagues with Director of The British School New Delhi, Vanita Uppal OBE, and students atÌýthe inaugural India Summer School.