Special Features

Reimagining Higher Education in India: Krea University’s Pioneering Approach

POSTED ON 12/20/2024 BY Arpit Solanki, Director – Admissions & Outreach, Krea University

A World Economic Forum report, Future of Jobs 2023, predicted that skills like analytical thinking, creative thinking, and AI proficiency will be highly sought after by 2027. This highlights the need to rethink education to prepare students for a rapidly changing world. In India, this shift has inspired new educational approaches. Krea University is a prime example, blending Liberal Arts, Sciences, Humanities, and Business in an interdisciplinary model to develop future-ready learners.

Building a foundation for change

New-age universities are changing how education works. They focus on small class sizes for personalised learning and use hands-on experiences like projects and internships to connect theory with practice. Their interdisciplinary curriculums combine fields like technology, humanities, and business to encourage creative thinking. These universities also prepare students for the future by teaching critical skills such as problem-solving, AI, and sustainability. With advanced technology and global partnerships, institutions like Krea University are shaping students to succeed in a rapidly changing world.

Krea University’s leadership team includes experts in academia, policy-making, industry, finance, and economics. Their diverse experience drives the university’s mission to rethink and transform education.

Notable leaders include Lakshmi Narayanan, Chancellor of Krea University and Co-Founder of Cognizant; Dr Raghuram G Rajan, Governing Council Member and Former RBI Governor; S Mahalingam, Governing Council Member and Former Chief Finance Officer and Executive Director at Tata Consultancy Services; and Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Member of Krea’s Advisory Group and Founder of Biocon, among others.

Krea University is driven by the mission to develop adaptable, resilient leaders with critical thinking skills and strong ethical values, empowering students to impact the world positively and meaningfully. As Dr Raghuram G Rajan aptly states, “Nurturing minds and fostering innovation are the true engines of future growth. By investing in education, research and creativity, India can position itself as a leader in high-value services.”

Embracing interwoven pedagogy as a new paradigm

Krea University embraces a holistic approach to education called Interwoven Learning (IWL). Moving beyond siloed disciplines, IWL integrates diverse perspectives, encouraging students to connect the dots between subjects and tackle real-world challenges holistically.

This approach means blending Economics with Literature, Biology with Data Science, or Politics with Psychology. The result is a curriculum that reflects the interconnectedness of real-world problems, equipping students with a versatile toolkit that extends far beyond their core disciplines.

Pranav Harikrishnan from SIAS (School of Interwoven Arts and Sciences) shares his experience, “Interwoven Learning helps transfer skills gleaned from one domain to another. It offers a platform to explore diverse fields of work without limiting oneself to just one. My encounters with various stakeholders at Krea and exposure to multiple perspectives have been instrumental in honing my thought process.”

Every student at Krea University grows and learns through Interwoven Learning, which broadens their knowledge and perspective. From a rich and diverse first-year experience to a challenging capstone thesis in their final year, each step of the journey is designed to be transformative and impactful. The majors are writing-intensive, interdisciplinary, and research-focused. The curriculum emphasises ethics, the origins and evolution of ideas, hands-on learning, and a strong understanding of data analytics and technology.

According to a Deloitte report, 87 percent of employers value soft skills like problem-solving, adaptability, and critical thinking just as much as technical skills. Krea University works with students to help them develop these essential skills to become versatile thinkers who can analyse critically, reflect thoughtfully, communicate clearly, and collaborate effectively in any situation.

Revolutionising programmes for tomorrow

Monster’s The Future of Work 2021: Global Hiring Outlook report highlights employers prioritising soft skills like dependability, teamwork, flexibility, and problem-solving. Universities, therefore, must offer opportunities for students to explore a range of disciplines and interests. Krea University focuses on developing these skills through innovative programmes so that its students can thrive and tackle real-world challenges in the future.

For instance, Krea University’s four-year undergraduate programme at SIAS starts with a Foundation Year, where students take 12 core and skill-building courses to develop confidence, purpose, and critical and creative thinking. This first-year experience helps students discover their interests and choose a major in their second year. With 14 majors, 3 minors, and over 120 subject combinations spanning Liberal Arts, Humanities, and Sciences, the curriculum encourages interdisciplinary exploration.

“In short, we conceive of each major in relation to other majors and the real world. The disciplinary alliances that emerge are unconventional — for example, advancing historical understanding using biological techniques such as ancient DNA analysis — and are oriented towards enhancing both knowledge and problem-solving ability,” explains Dr Prithvi Datta Chandra Shobhi, Dean, SIAS.

Additionally, the five-year Integrated MBA (IMBA) programme at Krea University’s IFMR Graduate School of Business bridges the gap between undergraduate education and professional expertise. Students earn a BBA after three years, a BBA (Honours) degree after four years and an Integrated MBA after the fifth year. The IMBA curriculum includes four focus areas: Career Business Management, Family Business Management, Entrepreneurship, and Business Journalism. It combines essential courses like Accounting, value-based courses such as Ethics and Personal Values, skill-focused courses like Programming and Negotiation, and ability-enhancing courses such as Conversational Skills.

“The two-year MBA programme in India has its roots in the USA. However, there is a critical difference: in the USA, students typically join with work experience, and the average age at M7 Business Schools is 28. In India, the average age is 22, with more than half the class having no work experience. This creates skill and exposure gaps. Our Integrated MBA programme addresses these gaps by focusing on skills, domain knowledge and practical exposure,” says Professor Suresh Venkatraman, Professor of Practice, Operations Management & Chairperson – Integrated MBA programme, IFMR GSB, Krea University.

Bridging education and real-world impact

In today’s rapidly evolving job market, robust career assistance is more crucial than ever. A 2023 All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) report revealed that only 45 percent of India’s engineering graduates are employable, underscoring a significant gap between academic learning and industry requirements. This highlights the pressing need for educational institutions to integrate comprehensive career services, ensuring students are well-prepared to transition seamlessly into the professional world.

The Career Services Office at Krea University offers robust support through internships, skill-building workshops, and placement opportunities. Additionally, it provides guidance for students exploring opportunities abroad, including information sessions, town halls, advising services, application support and scholarship opportunities. Krea’s Career Service Office also organises an annual Higher Education Fair, attracting universities from across the globe. Representatives from renowned institutions engage with students, showcasing academic programmes, research initiatives and exchange opportunities.

Additionally, according to a recent report by the Institute of International Education, students who study abroad are more likely to secure employment within six months of graduation than their peers who do not. Recognising this, Krea University has partnered with prestigious global institutions, including Bristol University, University of Sussex, Northeastern University, and Sciences Po, for master’s programmes. These global collaborations provide students with pathways to pursue master’s degree programs, enhancing their academic and professional prospects. For instance, Karthika Satyanarayanan, an SIAS alumna now pursuing a Master’s in Public Health at Yale University, reflects: “I’m specialising in infectious disease epidemiology, focusing on vector control strategies for arboviral diseases in Brazil. Krea’s pedagogy and professors helped me realise my passion for public health, an interdisciplinary field that goes beyond laboratories. I aim to study disease transmission and prevention in low-income settings through fieldwork and mathematical modelling.”

As a result, Krea’s graduates have excelled in diverse sectors, from global consulting firms to entrepreneurial ventures, building a robust alumni network that offers mentorship and networking opportunities.

Krea’s strong ties with industry leaders further enrich the student experience. Through guest lectures, industry panels, and collaborative projects, students gain valuable real-world insights, equipping them with the skills and confidence to face future workplace challenges. These initiatives ensure that Krea graduates are employable and capable of driving meaningful change in their chosen fields.

Looking forward

In an increasingly interconnected and complex world, the demand for education that adapts to these shifting dynamics has never been greater. By fostering innovation, embracing visionary leadership, and prioritising real-world impact, educational institutions can redefine learning and prepare students for an ever-evolving future. Krea University exemplifies this approach, paving the way for a transformative era in education and empowering students to thrive in a rapidly changing landscape.

Krea University seeks the brightest minds from diverse backgrounds to come together and co-create an enriching learning experience. It evaluates candidates beyond academic scores, considering potential through various aspects and values open-minded, curious, creative, empathetic students who are self-aware and strong team players. For information on admissions, call: