SU Expands Learning Opportunities in India

Seattle University recently signed two new memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with Alliance University and Jindal Global University and renewed existing MOUs with three St. Joseph’s locations.

Alliance and St. Joseph’s are located in Bangalore, India, while Jindal Global is in Sonipat.

Alliance University 

The MOU with Alliance University (AU) will increase SU’s connections to India by allowing students to study in Bangalore, along with professors having the opportunity to participate in faculty exchanges.

The MOU came about through an initial conversation when an international program manager at Alliance University reached out to Sital Kalantry, JD, associate professor of law and associate dean for International and Graduate Programs, who has done considerable work in India.

From there Trish Henley, PhD, associate provost of Graduate, Online and Professional Education, traveled to India in March 2022 and agreed to a university-wide MOU during her visit to AU.

“Professor Kalantry mentioned that we might want to visit AU while we were in India for our recruitment trip,” Henley explains. “Vice Chancellor Dr. Anubha Singh was kind enough to host me at AU’s campus in Bangalore.”

In June, SU hosted Vice Chancellor Singh on campus and the MOU signing officially took place during that visit, on June 2.

“Our relationship with AU will allow faculty and students at both institutions to broaden opportunities for cultural exchange and research between our universities and our respective countries,” says Henley.

Jindal Global University 

Professor Kalantry says she has partnered with Jindal Global University (JCU) since its inception in 2009 and, she says, “it is now the number one private university [in India].”  

Dr. Raj Kumar, the founding chancellor of JGU, recently visited SU and met with heads of various colleges to explore possibilities of collaboration, including SU’s School of Law, which “entered into a dual degree for our JD program and are working on an exchange and pathway Masters of Law (LLM) program with Jindal Global Law School,” says Kalantry.

As a result, “JGU students will have an opportunity to study at a vibrant university in the heart of technology and SU students will now have opportunities to engage in immersion programs in India.”

MOU Renewals with St. Joseph’s

Originating in 2017 and renewed in June 2022, SU has three additional MOUs with Jesuit higher education institutions in Bangalore, India:

• St. Joseph’s University (previously St. Joseph’s College until receiving university status in Summer 2022).
• St. Joseph’s College of Commerce (focuses on undergraduate business education)
• St. Joseph’s Institute of Management (focuses on graduate business education)

“We’re very grateful to have these strong Jesuit university partners in Bangalore,” says Joe Orlando, special assistant to the Provost for Strategic Initiatives. “Our students and faculty here have already collaborated [with St. Joseph’s], ranging from shared research, shared faculty (both in-person and virtual) and even a business plan competition. We look forward to growing and strengthening this relationship in the years to come.”