At the 20th FICCI Higher Education Summit 2025 held in New Delhi, Dr. Ashok Daryani, Director – International Relations, Sharda University, shared insights into the institution’s sustained commitment to internationalisation and global partnerships. Speaking to Diplomatist Magazine, he highlighted that global engagement has been intrinsic to Sharda University’s identity since its inception.
“We represent Sharda University, and fortunately, right from day one, internationalisation has been part of our DNA,” Dr. Daryani remarked. “I’m very happy to announce that we have more than 300 international collaborations and students from over 95 countries — perhaps one of the largest international student populations on a single campus.”
According to Dr. Daryani, Sharda University’s participation in the summit aimed at making these partnerships more meaningful and mutually beneficial.
“Many times, partnerships remain on paper,” he explained. “Our focus now is to explore synergies — to identify similarities and complementary areas so that every collaboration becomes mutually beneficial and research-oriented.”
He further elaborated on the university’s approach to mapping potential areas of cooperation with global institutions. “Whenever we engage with a university, we evaluate areas of collaboration — from credit transfers and semester exchanges to joint research initiatives. Today, research has become a necessity. No institution can thrive without meaningful and sustainable research solutions for global communities,” he said.
Taking collaborations to the next level, Sharda University is introducing innovative platforms that enable online academic exchanges, credit transfers, and international internships.
“We are now making our collaborations more adaptable and practical,” Dr. Daryani noted. “A partnership will only survive if it is mutually beneficial. That’s the direction we’re moving toward — ensuring every association delivers real outcomes.”
When asked what distinguishes Sharda University from other higher education institutions competing on a global scale, Dr. Daryani summarised it in three compelling reasons:
“First, Sharda provides a world-class infrastructure and academic ecosystem. If you want to reach any level of excellence, Sharda offers the right environment — in terms of education, research, facilities, labs, and centres of excellence.
Second, every student gets an opportunity to go abroad as part of their academic journey. International exposure is not a privilege; it’s a priority.
And third, we emphasise meaningful placements. Ultimately, whether it’s a national or international institution, success is measured by the employability of its graduates. We strive to ensure every student and parent receives a true return on their investment in education.”
For Sharda University, the journey of internationalisation goes beyond signing memoranda of understanding. It is about building long-term, purposeful relationships that contribute to the global knowledge economy while nurturing a student-centric approach to higher education.
“Education is an investment — a noble one,” Dr. Daryani concluded. “At Sharda, students come first. Our goal is to make every partnership, every initiative, and every experience meaningful — for our students and for the world.”
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