University of Derby forges links with India’s leading design institute

The University of Derby has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Pearl Academy, India’s leading institute of design, fashion, business and media.

The collaboration will enable the sharing of global best practices, promote collaborative learning and enhance students’ international experience, offering them an increased network of international opportunities while pursuing their professional goals.

There will be new opportunities for academic and student exchanges and collaboration in research, as well as the opportunity for Pearl Academy students to come and complete their studies at the University of Derby and gain a UK degree. 

Commenting on the collaboration, Professor Kathryn Mitchell, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Derby, said: “We are very proud to be associated with an industry disruptor like Pearl Academy. We feel both institutions are aligned with their focus on student experience, academic rigour and global outlook. I look forward to welcoming students from Pearl Academy to the University of Derby and hope that our students and faculty will visit and learn more about India.”

Professor Nandita Abraham, President of Pearl Academy, added: “We have prestigious alliances with Torrens University, Australia; Domus Academy, Milan; Media Design School, New Zealand and FIDM, USA, to name a few. A large number of our students have been travelling abroad for Masters, winning accolades and representing India in international forums. This alliance with the University of Derby opens yet another opportunity for our students at undergraduate level to expand their horizons and pursue their final year in an evolved market like the UK. I am sure our students will benefit a great deal from this partnership.”

The University of Derby is ranked as one of the UK’s top 30 universities overall in The Guardian’s University Guide for 2019. It was also named among the world’s top 250 modern universities in the Times Higher Education (THE) Young University rankings, and received the Teaching and Learning Strategy of the Year Award at the Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards (THELMAs) in 2018.

Pearl Academy is committed to providing academic excellence and quality learning experience through industry and international exposure to its students. The academy’s learning outcomes and academic rigour are acknowledged by international institutions, and the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding is further recognition of this.