Ashoka University academic council includes Kaushik Basu, Ramachandra Guha

NEW DELHI: Ashoka University, an upcoming educational institution, today announced its academic council comprising of eminent personalities like World Bank Chief Economist Kaushik Basu, author and historian Ramachandra Guha among others.

Andre Beteille, who is currently the Professor of Sociology at the Delhi School of Economics (DSE) at the University of Delhi, will be the Honourable Chairperson of the Council.

The University has strategic tie-ups with the University of Pennsylvania and Carleton College to help bring the US model of four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP) in India, an Ashoka University statement said.

Besides the afore mentioned experts, the academic council would consist of Supriya Chaudhuri, Christophe Jaffrelot, Devesh Kapur, Sunil Khilnani, A K Shiva Kumar, Sharad Malik, Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Rudrangshu Mukherjee, K Shivaramakrishnan and Kenwyn K Smith.

Speaking on the announcement, Pramath Raj Sinha, Co-founder and Trustee, Ashoka University, said: "With global academia and a unique course structure focusing on depth and flexibility, we are confident that an Ashoka education will be a transformative experience for students who are compelled to look abroad for quality education due to lack of options."

The university is a philanthropic venture with contributions of over Rs 125 crore from industry stalwarts like Pramath Raj Sinha, Founding Dean, ISB; Sanjeev Bikhchandani, Founder, InfoEdge (naukri.com); Ashish Dhawan, Former Senior MD, Chryscapital Investment Advisors; Vineet Gupta, MD, Jamboree Education; Sid Yog, Managing Partner, Xander Group and Puneet Dalmia, MD & CEO, Dalmia Bharat Cement among others.

The first batch is scheduled to commence in August 2014.