Towards a just, equitable, humane and sustainable society

Transcription

1 Contents Towards a just, equitable, humane and sustainable society Azim Premji University 1 An Introduction Educational Philosophy University Structure Our Campus Masters Programmes Academic Vision Eligibility for Masters Programmes Structure of Degree Programmes Specialisations Assessment and Grading M.A. Education M.A. Development M.A. Public Policy and Governance Partnerships and Collaborations Our Faculty Academic discourse at the University Expectation from students Admission Process 31 Encouraging Diversity Application Procedure Selection Process Important Dates Fees and Financial Assistance 35 Fee Structure for Financial Assistance Student Support Services 41 Orientation ASK (Academic Support Kendra) Mentorship Counseling Centre Medical and Insurance Students Council Students Clubs Career Opportunities and Placement Support 44 Placement with Azim Premji Foundation Placement Cell Placements: Overview Undergraduate Programme 51

2 Azim Premji University: An Introduction Azim Premji University was established in Karnataka by the Azim Premji University Act 2010 as a not-for-profit University and is recognized under Section 22F of the University Grants commission Act We offer Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Continuing Education programmes. Our programmes aim to prepare students with great competence, integrity and social commitment. The beginnings of the University are in the learning and experience of a decade of work in elementary education by the Azim Premji Foundation. The University was founded as one of the key responses to the constraints and challenges that the Foundation encountered both within and in the environment, and as part of a larger strategy to contribute to the Education and Development sectors in the country. As an institution, Azim Premji University exists to make significant contributions through education towards the building of a just, equitable, humane and sustainable society. 1

3 Two key principles guide the process of the University's evolution. Firstly, the University has an explicit social purpose. As an institution, it exists to make significant contributions to education in a manner consistent with social justice, equity, humane values and sustainability within the framework of a secular and democratic Indian polity. This is an explicit commitment to the idea that knowledge and learning have human and social consequences and that their pursuit cannot be separated from these consequences. At the same time, this commitment to a specific value orientation is not to be interpreted as a narrowly utilitarian view of the University. We believe that the commitment to these values is not in any way inconsistent with academic and institutional autonomy and excellence. Secondly, the University is part of the Foundation and integral to its vision. The synergy from the close working of the students and faculty with the Foundation's field units will inform and enrich the programmes at the University and the field alike. It should be clear from the above that Azim Premji University is unusual in the way it is conceived and organized. We profess liberal and 'humanistic' values and at thesame time define our intent unambiguously in the context of India's social and political development. We consider independence and excellence in research to be critical, but do not see the possibility of sharply separating knowledge from its purposes and consequences. We are not narrowly utilitarian in our orientation, but at the same time are deeply mindful of the consequences of our work. Vision Education for Social Change To contribute to the realisation of a just, equitable, humane and sustainable society Mission Prepare graduates with great competence, integrity and social commitment Expand the frontiers of knowledge in education, development and allied fields through research Support and enhance the work of the education and development sectors in the country through continuing education Contribute to change in policy and practice in the Indian education and development sectors through advocacy and public communication Educational Philosophy Understanding and action A social purpose Students will be helped to achieve the The emphasis on understanding and action capacity for understanding and action is complemented by the University s appropriate to their potential. The learning awareness of its social purpose. The programmes of the University will therefore University will strive to develop a deep focus on building knowledge, critical understanding of the role of education in reflection, values and skills that underpin creating awareness of moral and ethical such capacity. It is in questioning issues in debates on development and social established understandings and developing policy. This awareness will be reflected in new perspectives based on rigorous the design of the University s curriculum research and dialogue, that this intent is and research priorities. The University will brought to fruition. We recognise that explore and locate its learning and research academic freedom and integrity are programmes squarely in a deep and indispensable for this. Faculty and students nuanced understanding of India s political will be part of a community that actualises and cultural contexts and tremendous this vision in the light of the University s diversity. values and goals. 2 3

4 The learning individual The third and equally central concern of the University s educational philosophy is with the learning individual. Faculty and students are part of this community of learners. One of the central preoccupations of Education is its own impact on attitudes, values and the capacity for self-understanding. This capacity is not a product only of intellectual learning. It is a result also of the development of sensitivity and emotional maturity that sparks a lifelong process of inquiry. Seen this way, education is a journey of awakening that enhances and supports the individual s ability to discover well-being and to contribute to society. An environment that values learning in this manner has to be designed to explore the nature of learning for life and actively promote caring relationships that reach beyond the academic curriculum. University Structure To ensure efficient functioning and a clear focus, the University is organised as 6 operating units consisting of Schools and Centres with specific mandates. Schools Centres 1 School of Education 2 School of Development 3 School of Policy and Governance 4 School of Liberal Studies 1 Research Centre (RC) 2 University Resource Centre (URC) Each School / Centre is responsible for the current programmes and specialisations, and planning for future programmes. In addition, they house initiatives focused on specific areas within their domain, conduct workshops, conferences and other events. Illustratively the School of Education is responsible for: M.A. Education Programme and its specialisations Philosophy of Education initiative which hosts national and international seminars Work and Education initiative KATHAVANA Children s Literature Festival In the Academic year 2015, the following programmes will be on offer: Postgraduate Programmes Master of Arts in Education Master of Arts in Development Master of Arts in Public Policy and Governance Undergraduate Programme Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) with specialisations in the Sciences, Social Sciences and Humanities Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Honours and Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Honours with specialisations in the Sciences, Social Sciences and Humanities The Research Centre (RC) is responsible for conceptualising and facilitating research programmes, setting up the overall research framework and processes for the University, capacity building in research as well as facilitating research work of the faculty and others at the University and Field Institutes. The University Resource Centre (URC) is the continuing education arm of the University and is responsible for the design, development and execution of inservice programmes catering to a wide variety of practicing professionals in the education and development domains. The centre has conducted more than 100 continuing education programmes in the past 3 years. 4 5

5 Student diversity 46% women 22% have work experience of more than 2 years 46% with financial assistance 46% from small towns/rural areas 26 Representing states across the country Our Campus Permanent University Campus The University s interim campus is located within the premises of the PES Institute of Technology on Hosur Road, Bengaluru. The campus is spread over 12 acres and offers facilities and amenities that enable a comfortable and vibrant student experience. The facilities offered to students include: A residential University campus is being constructed on the outskirts of Bengaluru. It will have state of the art facilities and will be an iconic and one of its kind campus in India. The campus will be designed to reflect the spirit of openness, collaboration and communication required to foster an exemplary learning environment. Classrooms equipped with audio Cafeteria visual equipment Wireless connectivity Library Sports facilities Seminar halls Banking services and ATM 6 7

6 Masters Programmes Academic Vision Master of Arts in Education programme aims to help individuals develop into reflective education professionals with a conscious alignment towards humanitarian and social concerns. Graduates are encouraged to become education professionals who understand (i) The multidisciplinary social and developmental issues related to education (ii) Curriculum, pedagogy, assessment and policy issues at the heart of current education debates (iii) Inclusive education (iv) Issues associated with school education. Master of Arts in Development programme aims to provide students with a sound grounding in core areas of development theory, research and practice from a multidisciplinary perspective. This programme aims to prepare individuals capable of informed and thoughtful development action, who are aware of the complexity, depth and scope of the discourse of development, its ethical imperatives and its implications for policy and action. Master of Arts in Public Policy and Governance programme is being launched in Azim Premji University has identified Governance as a key area for the development of academic programmes, research and field intervention. Governance with public policy as its functional core has become increasingly important as governments at all levels in India are faced with complex administrative, social, economic and political challenges to undertake institutional reforms and governance policies. The programme will be foregrounded in social sciences and humanities in order to impart to students critical, analytical and practical abilities to engage meaningfully in the domain of governance. 8 9

7 Eligibility for Masters Programmes Master of Arts in Education Master of Arts in Development * Specialisations Health and Nutrition Law and Governance Livelihoods Public Policy Sustainability Programmes * Specialisations Curriculum and Pedagogy School Organisation, Leadership and Management Early Childhood Education Master of Arts in Public Policy and Governance Duration 2 years Eligibility * Please note: Students can pursue a balanced general programme as well, without opting for any specialisation. Specialisations indicated above may undergo a change; there could be additional specialisations on offer / some could be dropped due to several factors. Bachelor s Degree in any discipline (including Physical Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities, Engineering, M e d i c i n e, A g r i c u l t u r e, Environmental Sciences, Commerce, Management, etc.) from a recognized University. Undergraduate students who are appearing for their final y e a r e x a m i n a t i o n s a n d completing their graduation on or before September 2015 are also eligible to apply. The offer of provisional admission is valid only on successful completion of graduation. C a n d i d a t e s w i t h w o r k e x p e r i e n c e a r e a c t i v e l y encouraged to apply Structure of Degree Programmes The Masters Programmes are structured as Two-year, full-time in four semesters Credit-based, requiring 72 credits for graduation All the degree programmes follow a common credit-based structure, with each course carrying a specified number of credits. On successfully completing the course, students get the associated credits. i. Core Courses: These courses form the foundation of the programme. These are mandatory for all students. ii. Elective Courses: They are meant to supplement and extend understanding acquired in the core areas through more involved engagement with specific aspects of educational / development theory and practice. These courses expand knowledge, skill and orient students towards various dimensions of practice. Students may choose from among several elective courses. iii. Open Courses: A balanced curriculum needs to include opportunities for the student to explore areas of human and social interest that focus on themes related to the arts, culture, the sciences and other subjects of topical interest. Students have the option to choose from a variety of open courses. iv. Fieldwork / field placement: This gives students the opportunity to explore the field, critically view current practice, understand the implementation of programmes on the ground and contribute to ongoing practice or policy issues. The programmes have fieldwork organised in a variety of formats as below: Weekly one day practicum Career Opportunities Two-week mid semester engagements Six to eight weeks long-term engagements between semesters Students can look forward to fulfilling roles in organisations that engage in grassroots work in the field. They can also look forward to roles in academia, policy think tanks, politics, government programmes, multilateral agencies, corporate social responsibility departments of companies, funding organisations and in the media. v. Independent study: The option of independent study is expected to give students the freedom to go beyond the syllabus and explore a topic of their interest in depth. They will have the freedom to define the topic of their study, shape the final work and the parameters for evaluation in consultation with their faculty mentor. Students may do an independent study in the fourth semester instead of a four credit elective. The University periodically reviews and refines the curriculum, courses and credit structure of the programmes in response to feedback from students, faculty, field institutions and the Academic Council. The curriculum and credit structure mentioned in the following sections may therefore undergo some revisions

8 Specialisations As a University that focuses on education and development, it is imperative that students and faculty wishing to engage with the full breadth of concerns within these domains are able to do so. Students may choose specialisations, within existing degree programmes. Typically, the choice of specialisation is to be made at the end of the second semester. Students opting for a specialisation are required to choose electives from within the specialisation areas and obtain atleast 18 credits (out of the total 72) from these electives. In addition, it may be required to do semester III field practice in an area related to the specialisation. Each specialisation may have a limit on the number of students admitted and also specific entry criteria. Alternatively, students not opting for a specialisation may pursue a balanced general programme and opt for any of the electives available. Assessment and grading Assessment of student learning is an integral and important component of the entire teaching and learning process. They are designed in a manner that encourages better student participation and demand rigorous study. They will be comprehensive, and continuous evaluation throughout the semester will be used, not only end point evaluation. Faculty members are given the autonomy to come up with innovative and interesting assignments based on their own choice. The assessments schemes will vary across courses and typically students will be engaged in writing response papers, reflection notes, term papers, doing group and individual projects, book reviews, class presentations etc. T h e g r a d i n g s c h e m e f o l l o w e d i s non-competitive. Students are not compared, ranked or graded on a curve and the grades are not published openly. The University follows a letter grade system with Grade Point Averages for each semester (SGPA) and cumulatively at the end of the programme (CGPA). Master of Arts in Education 12 13

9 Master of Arts in Education (M.A. Education) The programme is designed for students seeking a multifaceted liberal exposure to the domain of education and aims to develop in them, wide-ranging capabilities and a conscious alignment towards humanitarian and social concerns. While not leading to a teaching degree, the programme will enable students to develop a critical awareness of the different aspects of education and of the diverse approaches used to grasp the multidisciplinary field of education. The programme thus aims to create a cadre of committed and reflective professionals who will have the perspective, knowledge, attitude, ability and experience to contribute to the development of a sound education system. The specific objectives of the programme are as follows: a. Understanding educational theory: d. Implementing independent Students will be introduced to theoretical educational interventions: approaches pertaining to a range of The programme will develop capabilities e d u c a t i o n a l q u e s t i o n s o n c h i l d to plan independent educational development and learning, teaching, interventions in various roles such as curricular material development, those of curriculum developers, textbook / curriculum planning, assessment, schools material developers, teacher educators and schooling, and the education system and researchers. as a whole. e. Nourishing professional development: b. Understanding educational practices The programme will aim to build in Indian school education: capabilities for self-learning and self- Helps students to grasp a wide variety of motivated professional development. educational practices, policies, settings f. Creating cooperative communities and and contexts. Alongside, they will be values of cooperation: introduced to the diversity of learners, The programme will foster capabilities to learning communities and school work in cooperation with others, to form systems. humane relationships and to have a deep c. Establishing the theory-practice commitment to human well-being. continuum: The programme emphasises that students evaluate theory in the light of ground realities while their practice remains informed by a critical, considered understanding of theory. Programme Structure The credit structure is as follows: Type of courses Number of courses Number of credits Core courses (Semester I and II) 8 32 Elective courses (Semester III and IV) 8 26 Field practice (Semester I, II and III) 3 10 Open courses (Any semester) 2 4 TOTAL

10 Each student is required to take the prescribed core courses and is given a choice of elective and open courses. The core courses and an illustrative set of electives and open courses are as follows: Course type Core courses Elective courses* Open courses ** Courses offered in M.A. Education (Illustrative) i. Philosophy of Education ii. Sociology of Education iii. Child Development and Learning iv. Education Policy and School Systems v. Comparative History of Education vi. Introduction to Education Research vii. Curriculum Studies viii. Political Economy of Education i. Curricular Studies and Related Areas Pedagogy courses in Science, Maths, Social Science, Language; Curriculum Materials Development in Science, Maths, Social Science, Language; Curriculum Theory and Research; Assessment and Evaluation ii. School Leadership and Management / Education Policy Areas Introduction to School Leadership and Management; Approaches to Educational Change; School Systems Analysis; School Management in India; Economics of Education; Education Policies and Programmes; Educational Governance and Decentralisation; Equity and Quality frameworks in Schools iii. General / Other Areas Early Childhood Education; Inclusive Education; Gender and Education; Teacher Professional Development; Advanced Social Research; Social Enterprises and Organisational Forms; Vocational Education; Work and Education; Education for Sustainable Development i. Multiple courses from ART, Literature, Cinema, Theatre, Music, Poetry etc. ii. Other areas like Archeology, Cosmology etc. iii. Courses on topics such as Trees, Insects, Birds etc. Note: * New electives are designed and delivered on an ongoing basis and more elective courses may also be available. Elective courses could be 2, 3 or 4 credits. Some electives are common to both the programmes. ** A limited set of open courses are available each semester. Specialisations The specialisations expected to be on offer for the M.A. Education programme are: Curriculum and Pedagogy School Organisation, Leadership and Management Early Childhood Education In addition to the above, other specialisations are being considered and may also be offered. Typically, the choice of specialisation is to be made at the end of the second semester. Students opting for a specialisation are required to obtain at least 18 credits (from the total 72 credits) from a set of electives belonging to the area of specialisation. In addition, it may be required to do semester III field practice in an area related to the specialisation. Each specialisation may have a limit on the number of students admitted and also specific entry criteria. Alternatively, students not opting for a specialisation may pursue a balanced general programme and opt for any of the electives available. Open courses These courses (examples of which have been indicated in the table earlier) are open to all students. Students are required to enrol for two such courses during the two years of study and obtain four credits from these. Field practice Engagement with field practice forms an integral part of this programme. It attempts to help students develop a deeper understanding of the implications of the theoretical and conceptual ideas being developed in the programme. The objective is to expose students to a variety of field settings in Indian educational contexts in order to sensitise them to issues related to the practice of education. The University works with potential organisations, in advance, to structure meaningful fieldwork opportunities for the students. Students are also welcome to design and suggest their own projects, which meet the criteria laid out by the University

11 Field engagement in the programme takes two distinct forms. (I) Weekly practicum that relates to course work and (II) Sustained field engagements (field practice) ranging from 2 to 6 weeks. Weekly practicum (One day / week): Practicum will be held on a designated day. Through this, students learn to conceptualise, plan and implement, critically examine some practices in various institutions as well as learn to work in groups. Semester I - Two weeks, mid semester (2 credits): The key objective of the first semester field engagement is to provide students with exposure to different levels of the government education system and to offer first-hand experience that could be built upon meaningfully throughout the programme. Semester II - Two weeks, mid semester (2 credits): The primary objective of the second semester field engagement is to provide students a chance to work independently on a research project linked to their core course on Introduction to Research (ITR). This provides an opportunity to complete a small, supervised research project. Semester III - Six weeks, end semester (6 credits): The third semester field internship is aimed at providing students a focused opportunity to work on a specific project related to the practice of education. The work will develop capacities in students to engage meaningfully with all phases of a project from reading and planning, to implementation, analysis and reflection, and oral as well as written reporting. This is expected to help them develop a range of capabilities required for educational thinking and decision making. The field engagement work of the third semester will be linked to the students areas of specialisation, where students have opted for a specialisation. The work could take a variety of forms such as research, teaching, internship and curriculum development. Master of Arts in Development 18 19

12 Master of Arts in Development (M.A. Development) This programme aims to prepare individuals who are capable of informed and thoughtful development action, and are aware of the complexity, depth and scope of the discourse of development, its ethical imperatives and its implications for policy and action with special reference to the Indian context. This requires conceptual rigour and sensibilities in students that would help them: Acquire core understandings in and across disciplines that inform the complexities of development. Critically relate these conceptual and theoretical frameworks to dimensions of development in areas such as health, education, livelihoods and sustainability. Enable students to engage with lived realities of people and communities through field opportunities. Explore ethical dimensions of individual and collective agency in processes of development. Programme Structure The credit structure is as follows: Type of courses Number of courses Number of credits Core courses (Semester I and II) Elective courses (Semester III and IV) Field practice (Semester I, II and III) 3 12 Open courses (Any semester) 2 4 TOTAL 72 Each student is required to take the prescribed core courses and is given a choice of elective and open courses. The core courses and an illustrative set of electives and open courses are as follows: Course type Core courses Elective courses* Courses offered in M.A. Development (Illustrative) i. Sociology of Development ii. Economics of Development iii. Theory and Philosophy of Development iv. Political Philosophy and Politics in India v. Ecology and Development vi. Social Interventions vii. Law and Governance viii. Introduction to Research ix. Introduction to Education, Health and Livelihood x. Skills for Development Practice i. Livelihoods: Policies, Practices and Challenges; Theoretical Foundations of Livelihoods; Competencies for Livelihood Interventions; Introduction to Forest and Livelihoods; Livestock Production Systems; Coastal Livelihoods; Poverty ii. Health and Nutrition: Public Health: Policy, Planning, Programmes; Health, Nutrition and Education; Health Systems Organisation and Financing; Health Education and Communication; Social Determinants of Health iii. Public Policy: Introduction to Public Policy; Empirical Policy Analysis; Policy Making and Governance Networks; Programme Design and Implementation; State, Markets and the Political Economy of Reforms; Policy implementation and Feedback; Anthropology of State and Public Sphere; Welfare Rights in India iv. Sustainability: Conceptualising Sustainability; Sustainability in Planning and Practice; Urbanisation, Food and Agrarian issues; Soil, Energy, Water; Principles of Ecology v. Law and Governance: Governance challenges in India; Law and Society; Law and Development; Legal System Reforms; Ecological Justice vi. General / Other Areas: Political Economy, Development and Governance; Social and Economic Analysis of Development; Social Enterprises and Organisational Forms; Work and Education; Contemporary Social Movements; Measuring Development; Advanced Social Research Open courses** i. Multiple courses from ART, Literature, Cinema, Theatre, Music, Poetry etc. ii. Other areas like Archeology, Cosmology etc. iii. Courses on topics such as Trees, Insects, Birds etc. Note: * New electives are designed and delivered on an ongoing basis and more elective courses may also be available. Elective courses could be 2, 3 or 4 credits. Some electives are common to both the programmes. ** A limited set of open courses are available each semester

13 Specialisations The specialisations on offer for the M.A. Development programme are: Health and Nutrition Law and Governance Livelihoods Public Policy Sustainability In addition to the above, other specialisations are being considered and may also be offered. Typically, the choice of specialisation is to be made at the end of the second semester. Students opting for a specialisation are required to obtain at least 18 credits (from the total 72 credits) from a set of electives belonging to the area of specialisation. In addition, it may be required to do semester III field practice in an area related to the specialisation. Each specialisation may have a limit on the number of students admitted and also specific entry criteria. Alternatively, students not opting for a specialisation may pursue a balanced general programme and opt for any of the electives available. Open courses These courses (examples of which have been indicated in the table earlier) are open to all students. Students are required to enrol for two such courses during the two years of study and obtain four credits from these. Field Practice Engagement with field practice forms a significant and integral part of the programme. It helps develop a deeper understanding of the practical implications of the learning acquired through the programme. Field engagement also allows students to introspect on their own role as change agents within the larger landscape. There are multiple opportunities for field engagement in various settings. The University works with potential organisations, in advance, to structure meaningful fieldwork opportunities for the students. Students are also welcome to design and suggest their own projects, which meet the criteria laid out by the University. Fieldwork will be supervised to varying degrees and the student s effort and learning will be evaluated. The field engagement component together carries a weight of 12 credits, distributed over three key activities and opportunities. Weekly practicum: Many courses have weekly practicum requiring the students to spend one day per week in field settings. These are primarily aimed to help students connect class room learning, with practical situations as they go through the course. Semester I - Two weeks, mid semester field exposure and immersion (2 credits): In the first semester, students will have a two-week field exposure which is meant to provide opportunities to strengthen the theoretical understanding provided through core courses in the semester. The effort will be to create a space for experiencing the realities of rural / urban / tribal communities, their social, political and economic structures, understand cultural systems and engage with people and institutions. Semester II - End-semester Internship (4 credits): At the end of the second semester, students will spend a period of six weeks with an organisation, which could include the Azim Premji Foundation s Field Institutes. Specific supervised field activities will be designed in consultation with the organisation. Semester III - End-semester independent field project (6 credits): At the end of the third semester, students will spend a period of eight weeks doing a project within a development domain. The student will be encouraged to identify specific areas of intervention a n d d e v e l o p a p r o p o s a l a n d implementation process in conjunction with the programme and work towards developing it or delivering it. In case of students opting for specialisation, this field project will be from within the specialisation area

14 Master of Arts in Public Policy and Governance (M.A. Public Policy and Governance) Master of Arts in Public Policy and Governance Public Policy studies the arenas comprising actions and practices by government d e p a r t m e n t s, a n d i n c r e a s i n g l y i n consonance with civil society and market organisations, at national, state and local levels, to achieve collective purposes mandated by organs of the State (Legislature, Executive and Judiciary). The core of Public Policy is the policy processes that initiate government involvement and thereafter, the policy design and administrative decision rationales that operationalise policy ideas, and the intervention and feedback effects of programme implementation. Governance is about how the authority of the state is exercised to perform crucial roles in a s o c i e t y. P o l i c y f o r m u l a t i o n a n d implementation are part of this larger process. A study of Governance without adequate focus on the policy side is incomplete and any study of Public Policy without situating it in the larger canvas of governance makes it mechanistic and devoid of normative grounding. In this M.A. Programme, Public Policy will be taught as part of the broader understanding of governance, fore grounded in social sciences and the humanities, in order to impart to students critical, analytical and practical abilities to engage meaningfully in the domain of governance. Specific objectives of the programme are to expose students to normative, institutional and behavioral frameworks that inform all actions that serve the public interest. Help students appreciate that Public Policies and Governance are composite spaces that necessitate analyses across disciplines rather than only from within disciplinary boundaries. Provide students with analytical skills to design, measure, describe and interpret subject matter of relevance to Public Policy and Governance. Develop among students an ethical compass that places equity at the heart of their professional decisions without forsaking other criteria such as efficiency, feasibility and sustainability as continual vocational concerns. Programme Structure The overall structure will follow the 72 credit structure with Core, Elective, Field practice and Open courses. The Masters in Public Policy and Governance programme is being offered starting July The details / list of courses, credit distribution, fieldwork etc. is currently under review and approval by the University and will be published on the website soon

15 Partnerships and Collaborations The University strongly believes that student learning is enriched by a variety of learning experiences; this focus on learning from a variety of sources is organised in multiple ways: Close working with the Azim Premji Foundation Field Institutes Partnerships with other organisations for fieldwork, student projects University colloquium series, national and international seminars Working with the Foundation The close working with the Foundation s District Institutions informs the learning and research programmes at the University. Critical components include: Students are exposed to challenges on the ground, through short term visits (2 weeks) and long-term project work at the Field Institutes (6-8 weeks) Our faculty Many Field Institute members with significant grassroots experience participate in class lectures and joint workshops, and execute joint research projects along with faculty and students. Other partnerships The students and faculty of the University significantly benefit from partnerships with other organisations, both academic institutions and grassroots organisations. Senior members from these organisations have been involved with various aspects of the programmes - from course design, field project mentorships and guest lectures as a part of courses, bringing in deep field perspectives. These are critical to enable students develop a much wider understanding of the education and development domains. Several research projects in collaboration with these organisations are underway with both students and faculty members involved. The University currently has a faculty team of 110, more than 60% of them with doctoral degrees and with diverse experience in teaching, research and fieldwork within India and abroad. Many faculty members have personally contributed to the social sphere and their work has been on the forefront of education and development policy, research and practice. The faculty at Azim Premji University forms a close-knit community, which provides students with many opportunities to get involved and work together on several projects during the two year s programme. Detailed faculty profiles are available on the University website. Academic discourse at the University University Colloquiums The University colloquium series is a weekly programme that brings a wide cross section of academicians, field practitioners and social activists to the University for interactions with the students and faculty. Students are exposed to a variety of topics, alternate view points on national and regional issues, research findings and lived experiences. These have helped students at multiple levels - from simply being inspirational to challenging their own established notions. In addition, students organise regular informal interactive 'Kaapi aur charchaa' sessions on campus. These have influenced students in their orientation towards various social issues. currently underway are: Philosophy of E d u c a t i o n, L a w, G o v e r n a n c e a n d Development, Work and Education and Livelihoods. Annual Events MANTHAN (Meet Annually, Think and Analyse) is an internal research conference that brings together researchers across the Foundation, from our Field Institutes, students and faculty at the University. The event held over 3-4 days has a series of research presentations, panel discussions and plenary sessions organised on various themes related to education and development. Students participate mostly through presenting their experiences from fieldwork in the form of papers, poster presentations and panel discussions. Initiatives These contribute to studying specific interest KathaVana, the Children s Literature Festival areas within the broad domain of education features a mix of events including book and development. They engage in research, exhibitions of children's literature in aid in advocacy for policy reforms, Kannada, English and Hindi, workshops for disseminate important ideas and opinions teachers and librarians, panel discussions by through academic journals and other experts on topics of relevance to children's publications, design and develop courses, literature, and fun activities for children and conduct national and international seminars adults. / conferences, festivals, etc. These events Unmukt, the Annual festival is a reflection of where academicians and practitioners share a the University culture of fluidity beyond common platform have paper presentations, panel discussions, plenary sessions etc. on a variety of topics within their domains. Students are actively encouraged to participate in these events as these offer interesting opportunities to enhance their learning through participation in organising, presenting papers etc. Key initiatives boundaries. This space nurtures and encourages varied student interests. The coming together of the student community to plan and put together a two-day celebration with guest speakers, workshops, music, song and dance, drama, food stalls, stall from different NGO s makes the festival very special

16 Expectation from students The University makes every effort to help students grow and realise their potential. The full-time M.A. programme requires rigorous regular study and presence on campus on a daily basis. Classes are scheduled for 4-6 hours daily, with students expected to come prepared to class with prior reading. Classes are focused on stimulating meaningful discussions, with faculty members guiding these. The assessment system followed is comprehensive and runs throughout the semester. Students will be working on term papers, response notes, group and individual projects, book reviews etc. requiring sustained and continuous effort. Given these expectations, the University does not encourage students to pursue other courses or work outside the campus (full or part-time), during their study at the University, as this will impact their degree of involvement with the programme

17 Admission Process Encouraging Diversity Student diversity is integral to equity in education and learning with a broader perspective. Our students are from across India, with linguistic, socio-economic and educational diversity. The University is deeply committed to having a diverse student profile and the admissions process is designed to attract applicants who show evidence of: A deep desire to contribute towards education and development in India Demonstrated independence of thought Orientation that is geared towards creating a just, equitable, humane and sustainable society There is strong evidence that social background and origins are connected with poor representation in institutions of higher education. The University recognises the disadvantages caused by socially created inequalities like a student s gender, their family s caste, religion, occupation, income, education and so on. As part of its commitment to equity and justice, the University admission process attempts to address these inequalities. Points are assigned to various aspects of the socio-economic background of every applicant, which will be added up, to arrive at an overall socio-economic disadvantage score and this score is added to the score secured by them in the entrance test and interview. The information on socio-economic background is sought in the application form, only for purposes of estimating the score and compensating for social disadvantage. 25% of seats are reserved for students domiciled in Karnataka and are offered to candidates who have met the selection criteria

18 Application Procedure Application forms for the Masters Programmes are available online on the University website between November and February. Offline forms are made available on request. The applicant may choose to apply for all three programmes. Admission offer to the programme preferred will be based on the performance in the test and interview. In case, the candidate qualifies for all three programmes, the University reserves the right to offer admission to only the programme of first preference. Documents required to be enclosed with the application: All candidates need to submit the following enclosures with their application forms. In case of online submissions, these can be scanned and uploaded: Two recent passport size colour photographs Original Application fee payment challan (Azim Premji University copy) / Proof of application fee payment via net banking Applying online: Candidate has to login through the link on the website and register online with ID and other details as required. On successful registration, an will be sent to the registered e- mail ID with a link to access the form and complete it online. Payment can be made online using a debit / credit card or via internet banking. Copy of Bachelor s Degree Certificate (OR) Provisional Degree Certificate (OR) Final Year Marks Sheet Copy of previous year / semester Marks Sheet (for applicants who are in their final year / semester of graduation) Persons with Disability (PWD) Certificate, if applicable Offline applications: Candidates can download the application form and fee payment challan from the University website. The details on the form can be hand written and sent to Admissions Cell along with the fee paid challan, photographs and copy of Degree Certificate. The completed filled in application form should be mailed to: Admissions Cell, Azim Premji University, PES Institute of Technology Campus, Pixel Park, B Block, Electronics City, Hosur Road (Beside NICE Road), Bengaluru, on or before due date. Application Fee: An application fee of Rs.250/- to be remitted in favour of Azim Premji University Fees a/c. either through bank challan, net banking or online payment. The fee remains same whether the candidate applies for one or more programmes. Bank Bank challan Net banking (Direct transfer to account) Online payment Union Bank of India A/c no Branch code (no bank charges apply) A/c no , IFSC Code: UBIN , MICR Code: (no bank charges apply) Account details as above (2.25% transaction charges extra) State Bank of India A/c no Branch code (bank charges of Rs. 25/- will be extra) Not available Not available Selection Process The selection process for the programmes includes a written test and a personal interview. Written Test: Eligible candidates will be required to take a National Entrance Test on February 15, 2015 (Sunday). To enable easy access for students, the test is conducted at 30 centres across the country including online centres. Personal Interview: Candidates shortlisted on the basis of their performance in the written test will be called for a personal interview in the period between March 9-27, Details on the admissions process are available on the University website: Important dates 1. Issue of Application forms by post / uploaded online November 25, 2014 onwards 2. Last date for receipt of completed application forms February 6, National Entrance Test 2015 February 15, 2015 (Sunday) 4. Announcement of eligible candidates for personal interview First week of March, Personal Interviews March 9-27, Announcement of selected candidates Second week of April, Preparatory programme for select students First week of June, Orientation programme begins July 15,

19 Fees and Financial Assistance Fee Structure: Category of Fee (in rupees) Per Semester Per Year (2 Semesters) Programme (4 Semesters) Tuition 26,500 53,000 1,06,000 Accommodation and dining* 38,000 76,000 1,52,000 Total 64,500 1,29,000 2,58,000 * Applicable only for students opting to stay at the student accommodation provided by the University. This fee is applicable for Masters Programmes at the University. For students who do not avail student accommodation provided by the University, only tuition fee is applicable. Accommodation and dining is a fee that includes charges for both accommodation and dining; these cannot be split and charged separately. The Accommodation and dining fee is for the period of the semester only; it does not include charges for vacations between semesters. There is no other fee or deposit charged for library, IT facilities, examinations etc. Students are covered under the student insurance scheme at no additional cost. Fee excludes out-of-pocket personal expenses students may incur. Fees are payable two weeks from the start of each semester. The University will provide fee intimation letter to students at the beginning of each semester with the fee payable, dates and other relevant information. Accommodation and dining fee is subject to revision on an annual basis

20 Fee Payment Schedule Semester I Fee Tuition fee to be paid within 15 days from the date of receipt of admission offer, in order to confirm acceptance. The first semester fee paid towards the acceptance of offer is nonrefundable. Accommodation and dining fee will be payable by July 31, Dates for payment of Semester II, III and IV fee: Student Accommodation Student accommodation will be provided on a need basis to those who request for the same. The accommodation will be in leased premises, reasonably close to the University and will be alloted on a sharing basis. These accommodations may undergo a change as deemed fit by the University administration. Student Insurance The University offers group insurance facility covering life, hospitalisation and accident insurance. There is no additional charge for this. Some of the additional expenses students are likely to incur are as follows: In all semesters Semester I Semester II and III Semester II Semester III Semester IV Start of semester Jan 10, 2016 July 15, 2016 Jan 10, 2017 Fee payment date Jan 25, 2016 July 31, 2016 Jan 25, 2017 Fieldwork Others Type of expense Weekly one day practicum: This will involve bus travel, lunch during visits to institutions within Bengaluru Two-week field project which involves travel out of Bengaluru, related stay and food expenses This will involve travel to locations outside Bengaluru for a period ranging from 4-8 weeks and expenses relate to travel, food and accommodation Students may incur expenses on stationery and photocopy of reading material. In addition, students will have personal and other out-of-pocket expenses. University support Students are expected to bear the expenses for the fieldwork. Only in very deserving cases of scholarship students, the University will consider funding for this. Financial Assistance Azim Premji University has an explicit c o m m i t m e n t t o w a r d s s u p p o r t i n g disadvantaged students and provides financial assistance to deserving students for pursuing higher studies. The following types of financial assistance are available. Scholarships The scholarships are provided to cover the U n i v e r s i t y f e e s, b o t h t u i t i o n a n d accommodation fees. Eligibility Candidates with annual family income of less than Rs. 5 lakhs / annum are eligible to apply for scholarships of upto 50%. A candidate who is awarded a 50% scholarship has to pay only 50% of the fees. Candidates eligible for such partscholarships can choose to pay the balance fees on their own or take an education loan facilitated by the University. For example, in case of a 50% scholarship, 50% own funds: Students have to pay 50% of the fee 50% scholarship, 50% loan: No fee is payable directly. The education loan covers the balance 50% and will have to be repaid by the student to the Bank Based on exceptional circumstances, enhanced financial assistance may be considered for candidates with an annual family income below Rs. 2 lakhs. Definition of Annual Income Unmarried: Income of parents (mother and father) / Guardian only Married: Income of spouse only Details of income provided must include income from salary, pension, rent, agriculture, business, investments, commission and any other sources. Eligibility does not guarantee scholarships. The University reserves the right to award or deny scholarships and the University s decision on this will be final and nonnegotiable. The University will conduct its own verification of documents and due diligence. The final award of scholarships is based on several factors like family income, number of dependents, background verification, appropriate documentation proof, etc. Education Loans The University will facilitate education loans for students through tie ups with banks. All students (with or without scholarships) can apply for education loans, for tuition and accommodation fees. The education loan requires a co-applicant, along with the student and the University only acts as a facilitator. It is the students responsibility to make available all required documents to the bank. Loan repayment starts after completion of the programme and the repayment period is upto five years. Candidates, depending on their requirement, can decide the exact amount of loan they need

21 Additional support for working professionals Process of application for financial assistance Documentation The University will require documentation to support the application for scholarship. The University strongly encourages experienced professionals working in the social sector to apply, as they bring in rich field experience and add significant value to Scholarship application: Candidates, whose annual family income is below Rs. 5 lakhs and are interested in availing a scholarship, must fill in details in the Scholarship - Mandatory documents The following documents pertain to the applicant s father / mother; or spouse in case of married candidates: class room discussions. Such students with hands-on experience gain a deeper insight that helps them become effective social change agents. The University recognises that some of these working professionals are application form. The application form has further details on the definition of family and components of income that are to be included. Please note that scholarship requests will not be Income Tax Payers Three year IT returns (Current + past two years FY , and ) Non Income Tax Payers Income certificate issued by the appropriate government authority (Issued not earlier than October, 2014) sole earning members and have dependents, and they may need additional financial support as their income from salary is lost. In such exceptional cases, a monthly assistantship is provided. Such assistantships is in addition to the scholarships and loans and a limited number of such assistantships are available. The value of such assistantship could range up to Rs. 5,000 per month. The minimum eligibility criteria for Assistantship are as follows: Minimum three years of work experience. The candidate should be employed as on March 1, The candidates should be the sole earning member of the family and quitting his / considered, if not indicated in the application form. Assistantships: No separate application is necessary and eligible candidates will be informed. Financial counselling: The University will conduct financial counselling for scholarship and assistantship applicants during the interview process, to further understand and assess their needs. Candidates applying for financial assistance should furnish the supporting documents required at the time of interview. Applications from candidates who delay submission / do not provide required supporting Additional Documents that may be required for verification: BPL Card where applicable. Pass book of Jan - Dhan Yojana account Latest salary slip of salaried members of family (father / mother / spouse as applicable) Form 16 issued by employer of salaried members of family (father / mother / spouse as applicable) Assistantships: Mandatory documents The following documents pertain to the applicant: Bank pass book showing the salary credited with last one year entries updated as on February 28, 2015 Work experience certificates from all previous employers indicating date of joining Relieving letter from previous organisation mentioning the last date Bank pass book with last one year entries updated as on February 28, 2015 her current job to join the programme. Annual family income (excluding candidate s income from salary) should be less than Rs. 5 lakhs. documentation will not be considered. Hence, candidates are advised to start collecting the documentation required, as soon as they apply for admissions. Latest salary slip Candidates are advised to keep the documents ready, to be able to submit them during the admission interviews. Delay in submission of documents will result in cancellation of application for financial assistance. Candidate performance in the selection process (test and interviews) will also be considered while awarding the Assistantship. Request for financial support after joining the programme will not be considered. The University will do an independent validation and conduct background verification to ensure that the scholarships are provided to deserving candidates. Its decision in this regard will be final and it reserves the right to withdraw scholarship, in case the details provided on income are found to be incorrect. The University reserves the right to ask for additional documentation

22 Student Support Services The University has a mix of students who are diverse in their background, academic experiences, professional training and past work experiences. Student support services are available, helping create an environment where students are supported in realising their full potential

23 Orientation Students begin their journey at the University with an Orientation Programme that prepares them for effective engagement with the study programmes. The Orientation Programme seeks to fulfill several academic objectives it sets the tone for the 2-year Masters programme, provides skills to access resources, introduces key concepts, sparks an interest to learn more about perspectives in education, development and the social issues in which they are embedded and also provides the start point for community building. A combination of group-based activities, study skills workshops, presentations and cultural performance will be a part of the programme. Students come from diverse educational and linguistic backgrounds and this requires many of them to prepare themselves before the start of the M.A. Programme at Azim Premji University. Shortlisted students will be called for workshops for additional preparation. These workshops will provide an environment for the students to build language skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing. ASK (Academic Support Kendra) Students at Azim Premji University come with very diverse professional training, past work experiences, academic experiences as well as language proficiency. The nature of work that is expected of the student demands a certain level of proficiency in reading, writing as well as presenting work in varied formats. Many students find the transition to a course involving extensive reading and writing in English difficult and seek academic support while engaging with their learning. ASK is one such initiative that works towards enriching academic experience for students. ASK supports students in many ways: Workshops and courses on academic reading and writing. Organising discussion groups, reading circles, peer learning programmes etc. Writing Centre for ongoing support on written assignments that covers aspects of writing such as doing literature search, citations, different forms and modes of writing, formal presentations etc. Mentorship Every student is closely linked with a faculty mentor who periodically meets and guides him / her. This mentorship is an informal relationship between the faculy mentor and the student through the time they are here at the University. Counselling Centre The emotional well-being of students is supported by a Counselling Centre at the University which has qualified Counsellors professionally trained to listen and understand students concerns and advise them suitably, while maintaining complete confidentiality. Medical and Insurance Medical facilities are provided with the help of external tie-ups. The Student Helpdesk serves as a point of contact to assist students with all their queries / issues related to insurance and medical facilities. Students Council The Students Council of Azim Premji University is envisaged as a constructive body, to enable students to work towards their growth and to build a vibrant educational culture anchored in the purposes and ethos of the University. Students are a very large percentage of the population and a crucial component of any University; thus, students, as key stakeholders, are actively represented in all relevant bodies within Azim Premji University through the Students Council. Students Clubs In order to create a vibrant student community, students create, participate in, and join clubs based on their interests. The Sports Club, Culture Club, Celluloid Club, Poetry Club, Drama Club, and Media and Editorial Club that works on the newsletter are some of clubs that are currently active. There are other student initatives working on areas like waste management etc. The clubs are actively supported by faculty mentors

24 Career Opportunities and Placement Support The social sector today offers a variety of exciting career opportunities for students with a desire to contribute to the development of the country. Growing public investment, landmark legislations like the Right to Education Act and large government programmes like NREGA, NRLM etc., and the increasing participation of NGOs in the development process - from policy-making to implementation and monitoring, call for talented professionals in large numbers. In addition, social entrepreneurs capable of innovative thinking are needed to ideate, create and implement path-breaking solutions to social problems. Students at the University can look forward to fulfilling roles in organisations that engage in grassroots work in the field as well as in academia, policy think tanks, politics, government programmes, multilateral agencies, corporate social responsibility departments of companies, funding organisations and in the media. Placement with Azim Premji Foundation Candidates with two or more years of work experience will be interviewed at the time of admission and if found suitable will be offered a Pre-Programme Employment Offer (PPEO), an option to join Azim Premji Foundation as a full-time employee, after successful completion of the programme. The PPEO is an assurance for working professionals who leave their jobs to join the programme. Azim Premji Foundation itself plans to hire more than 3000 people over the next 5 years and will consider hiring suitable students from the University degree programmes

25 Placement Cell The University has a Placement Cell where students play the lead role. Representatives from the student body work on identifying and connecting with organisations that students are interested in working with and also set up guidelines for smooth conduct of the placement process. These representatives are drawn from all the programmes and belong to both the senior and junior batches. The Cell is guided by the faculty and members of the Foundation across the country and has a dedicated support team for efficient administration. The Placement Cell works with potential employers from different sectors to understand their needs, analyse them and create opportunities for students, both through campus and offcampus placements. Placement support will be provided to all students for career opportunities in government, industry, NGOs and multilateral agencies as well as at Azim Premji Foundation. Placement Cell also organises workshops on a range of topics related to Professional Development Communication Skills, Attending Interviews and Career Guidance. Campus placement for the previous batches have been very encouraging with 90% plus placements for both the M.A.Education and M.A.Development programmes in 2013 and in Breakup of the sectors that students are working in is as follows: Nature of organisations Schools - 10% Fellowships - 12% Government organisations - 4% CSR - 7% NGOs - 67% Placements: Overview The social purpose of the University to develop accomplished, creative and socially committed professionals for the education and development sectors in India, has informed and guided the placement process. This is reflected in the placement statistics of the past years. i. More and more of our students are engaged in working with not-for-profit organisations across the country. ii. Of the total, 60% of graduates from the Class of and are working at jobs at the grassroots level, across the country, based in the field at district level locations. iii. The roles that students are typically engaged in are Programme Officer / Programme Manager / Project Officer in education and development programmes at the district level. iv. For most graduates without work experience, the salary offered, on an average in both years, was between Rs lakhs per annum. v. About 100 organisations have participated in the University placement process so far. Nature of organisations Fellowships - 1% CSR - 2% Funding Organisation - 2% Schools / Library - 11% Government organisations - 2% NGOs - 82% 46 47

26 Organisations that have participated in the placement process of Azim Premji University A B C D E F G ActionAid Adani Foundation Agastya International Foundation Akshara Foundation Akshara Vidyaashram Anandwan Armaan Azim Premji Foundation BAIF Development Research Foundation Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana Bharti Foundation Bodh Shiksha Samiti Cashpor Micro Credit Central Square Foundation Centre for Civil Society Centre for Good Governance Centre for Research and Development Dakshin Foundation Digantar edreams Edusoft Pvt Limited Educational Initiatives Pvt. Ltd. Ekya School Equitable Tourism Options (EQUATIONS) evidyaloka EZ Vidya Foundation for Ecological Security Foundation for Research in Health Systems Gandhi Fellowship Gramin Shiksha Kendra Green Foundation Greenpeace India H I J K M N O P Head Start Educational Academy Hippocampus Ibtada idiscoveri Education Pvt. Ltd. IL and FS Education India School Leadership Institute (ISLI) Initiatives for Development Foundation InOpen Technologies Pvt. Ltd. Inventure Academy IT for Change Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy JK Papers Kaivalya Education Foundation Kherwadi Social Welfare Association Knowledge Consortium of Gujarat Koshish Kudumbashree National Resource Organisation Makkala Jagriti Malkha Trust Micro Housing Finance Corporation Ltd. Naandi Foundation Nanubhai Education Foundation Odisha Tribal Development Society Paragon Charitable Trust (MUKTANGAN) Poorna Learning Centre Porgai Artisans Association PRADAN Pratham Pravah Q R S T U V W Y QMI Educational Trust Rahmani Foundation Re:Imagine Learning Community Room to Read India RPG Foundation SaciWATERs Sagar Salaam Bombay Foundation Samaj Pragati Sahayog Samvada Selco Foundation Seva Mandir Shoshit Seva Sangh Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement Swasti Teach for India Tejasvita The Akanksha Foundation The Centre for Environmental Concerns The Concerned for Working Children The Glocal University The Heritage School The Samhita Academy The Teacher Foundation Thermax Social Initiative Foundation Udyogini Vidya Bhawan Society Vignan Group Of Institutions Vrutti Wipro Applying Thought In Schools (WATIS) Young India Fellowship 48 49

27 Undergraduate Programme The University is launching the Undergraduate Programme commencing July, 2015 offering Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) with specialisations in Sciences (Physics, Biology), Social Sciences (Economics, Politics) and Humanities (a combined Literature, Philosophy and History major). Students will also have the opportunity to take up research and projects to obtain an Honours degree. The programme is a credit-based, full time, three year programme. Think Broadly, Deeply and Differently Our Undergraduate Programme will help students to explore their interests, raise questions that they think are important, and be mentored by faculty who are committed to students' learning. The programme will help students to: Build Critical Thinking and Analytical Capabilities through our Common Curriculum Understand Indian society and its challenges Explore diverse academic fields through specialisations in Sciences, Social Sciences and Humanities Take advantage of a flexible structure that allows you to discover and follow your interests Eligibility Class 12 / Pre University certificate from any recognized Indian Board or any valid International certificate equivalent to Class 12. Applicants appearing for their final examinations by June 2015 are eligible to apply. Those who have completed their Class 12 / Pre University board examination in or after 2012 are also eligible to apply. The offer of admission is provisional till proof of successful completion of Class 12 / Pre University study is provided. Admission Process Application forms for the Undergraduate Programme will be available on our website. The selection process for the programmes includes a written test and a personal interview. Visit our website for more details on Programme Structure, Selection Process, Fees and Financial Assistance etc