Latest news with #SabancıUniversity
The Wire
10-06-2025
- Politics
- The Wire
An MoU Cancelled Is an Opportunity Lost
Menu हिंदी తెలుగు اردو Home Politics Economy World Security Law Science Society Culture Editor's Pick Opinion Support independent journalism. Donate Now Politics An MoU Cancelled Is an Opportunity Lost D.V. Ramana 13 minutes ago When higher educational institutions disengage from international collaboration due to short-term political conflicts, they abandon their capacity for building relationships that transcend politics. Illustration: Pariplab Chakraborty. Real journalism holds power accountable Since 2015, The Wire has done just that. But we can continue only with your support. Contribute now In a recent move, one of India's top management institutes announced it was terminating its academic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Turkey's Sabancı University. The Indian Institute of Management-Kozhikode's director claimed the decision was in line with 'national interest,' emphasising values such as 'mutual respect, strategic alignment, and shared national values.' Though the decision aligned with overall mood of the country, it also raised critical questions about the role of higher education institutions (HEIs) in times of political unease in the country over incidents like the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam. Should academic institutions echo state policies, or should they operate as independent spaces for intellectual exchange and global cooperation? Education has always been seen as a powerful force for change. Several global leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela viewed higher educational institutions not as learning but as organisations playing a important role in shaping society and promoting peace. After World War II, HEIs played an important role in maintaining international ties and contributing to global advancement. HEIs are expected to work with a long-term perspective. They are expected to preserve the academic community, support national strength, and create a future through knowledge and wisdom. When HEIs begin to align too closely with short political decisions, they risk compromising their integrity and international standing. The recent decision of the management institute to follow the government may diminish its role as a moral and intellectual leader. Academic Freedom and National Security During global conflicts, national security is a legitimate concern. During war-like conditions governments may view relations with institutions in adversarial countries as risky or politically unsuitable. However, academic MoUs should be evaluated on their specific merits rather than being discarded wholesale. HEIs should assess whether specific collaborations pose actual risks to security or whether they provide genuine academic value. In many cases, political differences at the state level need not translate into academic seclusion. Continuing such relationships – even during conflict – can foster shared knowledge and cultural exchange, acting as channels for mutual understanding and positive diplomatic relationship in the long run. Even during the Cold War, American and Soviet scholars continued to connect through academic programmes. These exchanges served as informal diplomatic channels, promoting mutual understanding even when formal relations were troubled. When HEIs disengage from international collaboration due to short-term political conflicts, they abandon their capacity for building relationships that transcend politics. The decision by this premier management institute, to end its MoU with an international university, ignores the rich tradition of academic diplomacy. HEIs as agents of peace and dialogue Global conflicts may arise due to ideological, economic, or security reasons such as cross-border terrorism. Conflict resolution strategies, therefore, must be diverse and appropriately tailored. As Albert Einstein said, 'The significant problems we face today cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.' HEIs can lead this transformation through teaching, research, dialogue facilitation, and public engagement. Therefore, the cancellation of international MoUs sends a confusing signal to the public at large. The management institute should have kept the relationship alive to play its role as a facilitator of dialogue and innovation. As Leo Tolstoy said, 'War is a product of an erroneous way of thinking… and can only be abolished by a better understanding of human nature.' Such understanding does not emerge in silence or conformity. It is developed in classrooms, research collaborations, and intellectual discourse. HEIs are expected to provide such spaces. In fact, several HEIs have taken such steps in the past. A notable example is the University of Oslo and the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), which have a strategic agreement to emerge as a global powerhouse for knowledge on the prevention and resolution of armed conflicts. Drifting away from institutional mission Let me conclude by referring to the mission statement of IIM Kozhikode. It says, 'The Institute seeks to inculcate a spirit of wholesome learning and create a unique space of global reckoning, thereby nurturing capable and dependable management thinkers in the pursuit of developing socially responsible and environmentally friendly practitioners, leaders, and educators who will contribute towards creating a better world.' This mission underscores the broader responsibility that an institute must shoulder. It must not merely react to short-term national policies but must proactively shape a more equitable and sustainable future. The mission statement echoes strongly with the idea that HEIs must transcend national boundaries and foster global cooperation, especially in times of global conflicts that we are witnessing today. By disconnecting from a foreign academic partner, the premier management institute seems to have drifted away from its stated commitment to global engagement and knowledge exchange. D.V. Ramana is professor, Xavier Institute of Management, XIM University, Bhubaneswar. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments. 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Time of India
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
IIM Kozhikode terminates pact with Turkish university
Kozhikode: Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIM-K) has officially announced the annulment of its memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Turkiye's Sabancı University with immediate effect. The decision comes close on the heels of several central universities cutting ties with institutions from Turkiye following the country's support for Pakistan. IIM-K authorities said that the decision was taken as a firm step in support of national interest . The MoU, originally signed in Sept 2023 for a period of five years, had outlined academic collaboration in the area of student exchange. However, in light of recent developments and guided by national priorities, IIM Kozhikode has unilaterally decided to nullify the agreement and terminate all associated academic engagements, the institute said. IIM-K added that it has formally communicated this decision to Sabancı University and has requested the immediate removal of IIM-K name from all official records, websites, and platforms affiliated with the Turkish university. "At IIM-K, we place utmost importance on aligning our global engagements with the national interest. The decision to annul the MoU with Sabancı University has been taken after careful consideration and is in keeping with our institutional responsibility to uphold the values and priorities of our nation. We remain committed to fostering international collaborations that reflect mutual respect, strategic alignment, and shared national values," said IIM-K director Debashis Chatterjee. IIM- K reiterates its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity and to engaging with global institutions that resonate with India's strategic and educational values, he added.
News18
20-05-2025
- Business
- News18
IIM Kozhikode Terminates MoU With Turkey's Sabancı University
The Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIMK) has terminated its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sabancı University, Turkey, with immediate effect, the institute said in a statement on Tuesday. The decision has been taken in view of national interest. All academic collaborations and associated activities under this MoU have been cancelled, the institute added. 'In view of national interest, the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode has unilaterally annulled the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sabancı University, Turkey, with immediate effect," IIMK said.
The Hindu
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
IIM-K cancels MoU with Turkish university
Close on the heels of several premier Central institutes snapping ties with Turkish universities over Turkiye's support for Pakistan, the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIM-K) has cancelled its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sabancı University with immediate effect, citing the decision 'as a firm step in support of national interest.' A press release issued on Tuesday said that the IIM-K formally intimated this to Sabancı University and requested the immediate removal of the institute's name from all official records, websites, and platforms affiliated with the Turkish university. The MoU, originally signed in September 2023 for a period of five years, had outlined academic collaboration in the area of student exchange. However, in light of recent developments and guided by national priorities, IIM-K has unilaterally decided to nullify the agreement and terminate all associated academic engagements. In a statement, Prof. Debashis Chatterjee, IIM-K Director, said: 'At IIM-K, we place utmost importance on aligning our global engagements with national interest. The decision to annul the MoU with Sabancı University has been taken after careful consideration and is in keeping with our institutional responsibility to uphold the values and priorities of our nation. We remain committed to fostering international collaborations that reflect mutual respect, strategic alignment, and shared national values.' IIM-Kozhikode reiterates its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity and engaging with global institutions that resonate with India's strategic and educational values, the statement said.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
IIM Kozhikode Terminates MoU with Sabancı University, Turkey
The Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIMK) has officially announced the annulment of its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sabancı University , Turkey, with immediate effect, as a firm step in support of national interest , the B school said in a statement on Tuesday. The MoU, originally signed in September 2023 for a period of five years, had outlined academic collaboration in the area of student exchange. However, in light of recent developments and guided by national priorities, IIM Kozhikode has unilaterally decided to nullify the agreement and terminate all associated academic engagements. The Institute has formally communicated this decision to Sabancı University and has requested the immediate removal of IIM Kozhikode's name from all official records, websites, and platforms affiliated with the Turkish university. Prof. Debashis Chatterjee , Director of IIM Kozhikode , said: "At IIM Kozhikode, we place utmost importance on aligning our global engagements with the national interest. The decision to annul the MoU with Sabancı University has been taken after careful consideration and is in keeping with our institutional responsibility to uphold the values and priorities of our nation. We remain committed to fostering international collaborations that reflect mutual respect, strategic alignment, and shared national values." IIM Kozhikode reiterates its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity and to engaging with global institutions that resonate with India's strategic and educational values, the statement added.
