Though separated by thousands of miles, the University of Iowa (UI) has long-standing ties to India through partnerships and initiatives such as through the Sehgal Foundation, the Department of Ophthalmology in the Carver College of Medicine, the South Asian Studies Program affinity group in International Programs, and the College of Pharmacy. A recent faculty visit to Pune further strengthened UI’s growing partnership with Maharashtra Institute of Technology – Art, Design & Technology (MIT-ADT), a private, multidisciplinary university.
In late March, Russ Ganim, associate provost and dean of International Programs, traveled to Pune along with several UI faculty members representing the arts, engineering, and business. This visit marked the first in-person engagement by UI faculty since Iowa began its partnership with MIT-ADT five years ago. With a shared emphasis on business, engineering, and design, faculty and administrators from both institutions explored key areas for collaboration and meaningful academic exchange.
“The long-term vision for our collaboration with the University of Iowa is to create a sustainable and multi-dimensional partnership that transcends traditional academic exchanges.”
“There is so much going on [in India] in terms of growth in higher education,” said Ganim. “There's a dynamism across disciplines and across economic sectors, and there's also a very strong emphasis on applied learning and on the practical application of what is learned in universities and how it can translate to the business world.”
MIT-ADT echoed this vision for a broad and sustainable partnership.
“The long-term vision for our collaboration with the University of Iowa is to create a sustainable and multi-dimensional partnership that transcends traditional academic exchanges,” said Mrunal Sule, manager of the office for International Affairs at MIT-ADT.
Dr. Downing Thomas, interim director of the School of Art, Art History, and Design at Iowa, also participated in the visit.
“I see considerable potential in developing both research and curricular connections between MIT-
ADT Pune and the UI School of Art, Art History, and Design around shared interests,” said Thomas. “Cross-cultural approaches and solutions to common design problems stand to offer new perspectives for students and faculty on both sides.”
“I was particularly impressed by the university’s state-of-the-art facilities, its vibrant campus atmosphere, and its learner-centered curriculum. Considering the warm welcome extended to our delegation by the MIT-ADT community, we see a strong and promising partnership ahead.”
That sentiment was echoed by Monica Correia, UI professor of 3D design, who was struck by their similar approaches to design education.
“It was fascinating to see how faculty from two different cultures and backgrounds approach design education in similar ways, using their local craft traditions and digital tools to enhance the curriculum,” said Correia.
In the future, Sule shared that the School of Art, Art History, and Design will be able to collaborate with the School of Fine Arts and Applied Arts (SoFA) at MIT-ADT with a new program.
“SoFA is designing a customizable immersion program, ranging from 4 to 6 weeks, which can be offered to University of Iowa students to explore Indian art, crafts, and heritage. As part of this initiative, visiting students will have the unique opportunity to interact directly with local artisans and participate in hands-on cultural learning experiences, deepening their understanding of Indian art practices and cultural landscapes.”
This theme of mutual benefit and innovation resonated across disciplines. Fernand Bila, associate director of the Institute for International Business at Iowa, highlighted the alignment between MIT-ADT’s mission and Iowa’s international ambitions.
“The commitment of MIT-ADT’s leadership and faculty to delivering a world-class education creates an ideal environment for the University of Iowa to play a key role in the Indian higher education landscape,” said Bila.
Reflecting on the visit, Bila emphasized the university’s modern infrastructure and student-focused learning model.
“I was particularly impressed by the university’s state-of-the-art facilities, its vibrant campus atmosphere, and its learner-centered curriculum,” he added. “Considering the warm welcome extended to our delegation by the MIT-ADT community, we see a strong and promising partnership ahead.”
Beyond business and the arts, Iowa’s engineering faculty also found promising opportunities for collaboration during the visit.
Suresh Raghavan, associate dean for graduate education and professor of biomedical engineering, reflected on the quality of MIT-ADT’s programs.
“I saw vibrant engineering programs at MIT-ADT that prepare their students well to pursue contemporary careers and postgraduate studies," Raghavan said. "Our interactions with faculty and administrators were engaging and insightful. I came away convinced that the core values, educational objectives, and commitment to student success are strongly aligned between our programs.”
Building on these connections, H.S. Udaykumar, associate dean for research and professor of mechanical engineering at UI, emphasized the next steps for collaboration.
“The College of Engineering is working on establishing faculty-to-faculty and faculty-to-student connections to build on the relationships developed during our visit to MIT-ADT,” Udaykumar said.
All six members of the Iowa delegation, including Ganim, participated in panel discussions at MIT-ADT, contributing to an exchange of ideas and identifying new avenues for collaboration.
“I think [the visit] was a success because we were able to put a substantial Iowa presence into this partnership,” Ganim said. “We want to continue our efforts to recruit students from India, but we also want to create student and faculty mobility in the other direction. We hope to see more of our faculty pursuing research opportunities in India, and more of our graduate students engaging in international scholarship and exchange.”
That commitment to two-way mobility and deeper engagement is clearly recognized and appreciated by MIT-ADT.
“The University of Iowa's willingness to support student mobility through initiatives like graduate assistantship opportunities for MIT-ADT design students is a testament to their commitment to fostering talent and creating meaningful pathways for global engagement,” Sule said. “Their openness to co-develop joint degree programs, host masterclasses, and participate in startup-to-startup connections and incubator partnerships has allowed MIT-ADT to broaden both academic and entrepreneurial horizons, benefiting students and faculty alike.”
Ganim expressed strong enthusiasm for the future of the partnership, particularly the potential for joint programming, collaborative research, and academic exchanges. With growing momentum and strong support from both institutions, Iowa and MIT-ADT are well-positioned to deepen their collaboration.
“In essence, the future of this partnership is anchored in mutual growth, global exposure, and the joint commitment to shaping students and scholars into leaders and innovators in their respective fields,” Sule concluded.
As ties with India continue to grow, this partnership reflects the University of Iowa’s broader commitment to fostering meaningful international relationships and expanding global engagement for years to come.
International Programs (IP) at the University of Iowa (UI) is committed to enriching the global experience of UI students, faculty, staff, and the general public by leading efforts to promote internationally oriented teaching, research, creative work, and community engagement. IP provides support for international students and scholars, administers scholarships and assistance for students who study, intern, or do research abroad, and provides funding opportunities and grant-writing assistance for faculty engaged in international research. IP shares their stories through various media, and by hosting multiple public engagement activities each year.
