A University degree, at the undergraduate level, should represent excellence.  Practically, this aspiration is largely missing from the Indian higher education environment. While the markets for educational institutions in technical & professional fields have flourished, there has been little focus on improving the general capabilities of undergraduate students (that represent the majority of degree students). Vedanta University will ensure that all students graduate with a strong foundation in basic disciplines.

The rationale for an undergraduate emphasis:

• About 80,000 students went to US alone in 2004 for higher education (with a total estimate of 150,000 to institutions around the world); it is expected that 30 per cent of this group will go abroad for under-graduate education in the future; demand for quality basic higher education is growing.
  
  
• 70% of educated people in India do not go beyond undergraduate levels. Undergraduate education from the existing university system often does not provide employable skills, broad perspectives, or life changing experiences.
  
  
• Research and teaching should be brought together at the undergraduate level - bring top researchers to work in the university environment, to teach undergraduate students, initiate these students to processes and rigors of research.
  
  
• A higher education degree should develop intellectual curiosity and critical thinking.
  
  
• New economy institutions must provide flexible academic programmes - enabling the student to customize parts of their learning to develop unique career opportunities.
  
  
• Students should be able to have deep specialization – provide opportunity to focus on any area and develop expertise at undergraduate and graduate levels; also promoting deep thinking on every issue.
  
  
• Universities should create opportunities to learn across disciplines - to enable students to take courses in different areas, learn from various disciplines and develop a comprehensive perspective while analyzing issues.
  
  
• Undergraduate education should prepare the next generation of leaders – prepare students to become leaders in society and for having a bias for action.
  
  
• All students should have access to higher education – initiate a “need-blind” admissions process: admit students on the basis of merit and ensure need-based financial support for all who are admitted.
  
  
• Universities should proactively create opportunities for marginalized segments of Indian society – help develop leadership by providing quality training to bright young people in the economically weak segments of society.