Bengaluru: In a decisive
move to bridge academia with real-world relevance and future skills, the Gokula
Education Foundation (Medical), which manages the Ramaiah University of Applied
Sciences, Ramaiah Medical College, and the Ramaiah Memorial Hospital has now partnered
with University at Albany, State University of New York, a premier public
research university, to launch Ramaiah Institute of Science and Management
(RISM), a deemed-to-be university in Bangalore. Envisioned as a
next-generation STEM and Management institution, RISM will deliver globally
benchmarked, industry-aligned education with a strong emphasis on research and
real-world application preparing students for a rapidly evolving global
landscape. The university will commence its first academic session in August
2026.
Building
on over six decades of excellence in education, research, and healthcare, the
Gokula Education Foundation (Medical) is extending its experience through RISM,
reimagining higher education with a global-first, industry-aligned approach.
The university will offer undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes
across the engineering, business, and science disciplines, with the initial
programmes including B. Tech in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence,
Aerospace Engineering, and Electrical Sciences, alongside BBA and MBA
programmes. Its academic model is anchored in a co-created curriculum developed
with industry and academic partners, integrating interdisciplinary learning,
industry-sponsored Centres of Excellence, and hands-on exposure through
internships, live projects, and capstone assignments to build real-world
capabilities.
At
RISM, “Relevance” will be designed into the foundation through an integrated
business and management-led approach across programs. Each course will embed
real industry exposure from the outset, ensuring learning stays applied and
outcome driven. Students will also engage with ‘Mentor Professors,’ ‘Professors
of Practice from amongst senior industry leaders embedded within each
department in formal faculty roles, a first-of-its-kind model. Complementing
this, translational research anchors the university’s academic framework,
shaping both curriculum design and tangible impact. With this integrated
approach, RISM aims to build a learning ecosystem where industry context,
academic rigor, and translational research converge seamlessly.
Speaking on the launch, Mr.
Gurucharan Gollerkeri, Executive Director and Chief Strategy Officer, Gokula
Education Foundation (Medical) said, “We are operating in a
fast-changing, deeply interconnected global environment where the boundaries
between disciplines, industries, and geographies are rapidly dissolving.
Traditional education models are no longer sufficient to prepare students for
this new reality. With RISM, we are addressing this shift by building an
ecosystem that integrates technology, business, and applied learning in a way
that mirrors how the real-world functions and is evolving. While job market
relevance is critical, our larger focus is on strengthening core knowledge,
critical thinking, and learning agility, thereby equipping students not just
for the jobs of today, but for an unpredictable future where the ability to
continuously learn and adapt will define success.”
The School of Computer Science
and Artificial Intelligence will equip students to operate at the forefront of
technological change, building strong foundations in programming, algorithms,
and data, with applied exposure to machine learning, automation, and
human-robot interaction. The School of Aerospace Engineering will offer a
rigorous pathway across aeronautical and astronautical domains, covering flight
systems, spacecraft design, satellite technologies, and space exploration. The
School of Business will focus on developing analytical, managerial, and
strategic capabilities for modern enterprises, with industry-sponsored learning
centres on campus enabling early, hands-on engagement with real-world business
challenges, including managing tech-entrepreneurship. What differentiates RISM
is how these disciplines are brought together within a globally connected,
industry-embedded learning ecosystem, anchored in its knowledge partnership
with University at Albany. Through year-abroad opportunities, immersive learning
formats, and corporate-sponsored Centres of Excellence, students move beyond
siloed education to continuously apply cross-disciplinary thinking in the
real-world contexts.
Speaking on the launch, University at Albany President
Havidán Rodríguez said, “The University at Albany is proud to be
entering into a new knowledge partnership with the Ramaiah Institute of Science
and Management. By harnessing our collective expertise in teaching, research,
and industry-aligned approaches to education, RISM, in collaboration with
UAlbany, will advance education in key areas like computer science,
engineering, business, and nanotechnology. As UAlbany endeavors to educate
engaged global citizens, partnerships like these are essential to our success.”
The university’s main residential
campus is being developed in Bengaluru’s Information Technology Investment
Region (ITIR) near Devanahalli, placing it in proximity to key industrial and
innovation hubs such as the Aerospace Park, Special Economic Zone, Global
Financial District, and the upcoming Foxconn facility. This location is
expected to foster strong industry-academia collaboration, particularly across
STEM disciplines. RISM will commence academic operations from a transit campus
in Yelahanka in August 2026, with the main campus expected to be fully
operational by September 2027.
All programmes at RISM will
follow a fully residential model designed to enable holistic student
development beyond the classroom, including structured sports, cultural
engagement, wellness initiatives, leadership development, and entrepreneurship
support, creating a well-rounded and immersive learning environment.