FLAME ( Foundation for Liberal and Management Education) signs MOU

Dec. 10, 2008 - PRLog -- New UK-India Agreement accelerates Business Education and Research
Pune 10th December 2008: A new partnership agreement between FLAME, an Indian educational institution and a British university was signed in New Delhi recently.  The agreement establishes methods for developing joint research, teaching and academic staff development through its two partner organisations.  It supports the spirit of the India-UK Joint Declaration signed in January 2008 by the Prime Ministers of both countries.
The partnering institutes are the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Imperial College London (RGC) and the Foundation for Liberal and Management Education (FLAME), based at Pune.
A programme of joint research will provide new insights into how best to rapidly improve innovation management with respect to infrastructure in India.  This will be supported by faculty exchange and development to help ensure that research based practice is shared between both institutions.  Student exchange initiatives will also support this international integration in the future.
Professor Gerard George, Director, RGC and Mr Parag Shah, Chairman and Professor Indira Parikh, President of FLAME and former Director, IIM(A) signed the partnership agreement in the presence of the British High Commissioner to India, H E Sir Richard Stagg.
H E Sir Richard Stagg, the British High Commissioner to India, speaking at the signing    said:
"This MoU will help forge a closer partnership between UK and India in the field of Higher Education. The UK is a leading centre for R&D with advanced research institutions and world-renowned scientists. 4 of the top 10 universities in the world are in Britain. The UK has a strong framework to facilitate collaboration of industry and academia.
India is a huge reservoir of talent, with the capacity to push the frontiers of knowledge. We are confident that this new partnership will bring substantial benefits to the students and faculty of both countries."
Speaking at the signing, Professor George said:
“The partnership will facilitate greater cross-fertilisation of ideas, enhance linkages and give exposure to the world-class research and education platform that Imperial College London provides.  Crucially, it will allow the further development of research capabilities in India generating new insights into how Indian companies can improve innovation and performance.”

Professor George added that, “After Imperial College’s involvement in helping to build the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi in the 1960s, this partnership represents the first of the university’s new commitments to partner with India to help build its educational infrastructure.”

Mr Parag Shah, FLAME's Chairman, at the signing event said “FLAME is the first Liberal Education Foundation in India. The thrust of liberal education is building leadership and fostering holistic growth. FLAME does just that. The current models of business are under enormous stress and entrepreneurship of a different kind is required. Entrepreneurship that is based on strong value systems, long term vision and risk appetite. It is hoped that the Imperial College and FLAME will contribute to the emerging models of Entrepreneurship in a unique way. Students of FLAME School of Business, FLAME School of Communication and FLAME School of Liberal education together with the industry and Academia will benefit from this synergy.”
Prof. Indira Parikh, President of FLAME said “We are pleased with this partnership. The legacy of Imperial and the values of FLAME are coming together to deliver the futuristic thoughts in the Indian education system. The future of education anchors itself in shared values of providing the next generation with leadership abilities to cope with turbulence and turmoil in the environment. It also facilitates resilience to learn from each other and build lasting bonds. The exposure and opportunities of multicultural dialogue generated through this partnership would prove mutually beneficial.”  
The Rajiv Gandhi Centre is a specialist Centre located within Imperial College Business School which seeks to reconnect the university with India for the benefit of both countries.  The Centre acts as the point of reference between India and its global collaborators in innovation and entrepreneurship.  The integrated and multi-disciplinary approach of the Centre, together with Imperial’s world class expertise in applied research, provide a unique vehicle for corporate sector engagement – for undertaking research projects, for executive education and corporate venturing, and for the dissemination of best practice in its chosen domain.
FLAME, founded in 2004, offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, including management and communication subject areas.  Its aim is to enhance India's formal education with traditional knowledge through a progressive methodology. FLAME offers a flexible pattern of education that encourages interdisciplinary studies. Being the first institute offering liberal education in India, FLAME blends traditional values with liberal education and revives the ‘Guru-Shishya’ ethos in our education system.
For more information please contact:
Elliott White - e.white@imperial.ac.uk or +44 207 594 9154
or
Sandhya Potdar - sandhya@flame.edu.in or +91 98221 10065
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