Global Partners Conference: Building bridges with India
This fall, Notre Dame Global launched its inaugural Global Partners Conference on the University of Notre Dame’s campus in South Bend, Indiana, bringing institutional partners from around the world together to share ideas on global education, research, and innovation. The invitation-only gathering provided partners with an opportunity to network, learn about Notre Dame’s strategic framework, and experience campus and the local community firsthand.
For Notre Dame Mumbai, the week marked an important step forward with its work in India. It was the first time that several of ND Mumbai’s key partners saw the Golden Dome and Basilica, visited labs and institutes, and sat down with University leadership to discuss how to deepen collaboration in both directions.
“We played two key roles at the conference,” said Dhiraj Mehra, director of initiatives in India at ND Mumbai. “First, we coordinated with our Indian partners and were very intentional about who we invited. Second, we made sure those partners were represented by the right people, at the right tables.”
A strategic cross-section of Indian higher education
India’s higher education system is highly specialized, with different institutions known for distinct strengths rather than broad, all-encompassing portfolios. ND Mumbai wanted the Indian delegation to reflect that diversity.
Five institutions were invited: the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay), the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Pune (IISER Pune), St. Xavier’s College in Mumbai, Ashoka University, and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS). IIT Bombay and Ashoka were unable to attend. Three institutions made the trip to South Bend:
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Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune (IISER Pune), represented by Professor Arnab Mukherjee, Dean of International Relations and Outreach, and Dr. Naresh Sharma, Head of the International Relations Office
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St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, represented by Rector Rev. Dr. (Fr.) Keith D’Souza, S.J.
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Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), represented by Registrar Mr. Narendra Mishra and Prof. Madhushree Sekher, Chairperson of the Office for International Affairs, and Dean, School of Skill Education.
“As we chose institutions, we asked whether our missions align and whether we are all working toward similar goals in the coming years,” Mehra explained. ND Mumbai also looked closely at where faculty on campus already had strong interests in India, and where Indian institutions were eager to build relationships at the institutional level, not just around single projects.
Seeing Notre Dame’s campus, and imagining two-way mobility
Throughout the conference, attendees participated in sessions on research, mobility, and global engagement, and gained a deeper understanding of Notre Dame’s initiatives and strategic framework. For many of the Indian visitors, however, the most meaningful moments came from simple encounters on campus.
“Barring one person, none of our Indian partners had ever been to campus,” Mehra said. “We are usually the ones going out and meeting them in their cities. This time, they met everyone from the University President, Fr. Bob Dowd, to institute directors, visited the labs and facilities, and interacted with our extended staff and global network. It really changed perspectives.”
The visit also strengthened a long-standing priority for ND Mumbai: two-way mobility.
“ND Mumbai is not only focused on Notre Dame in India,” Mehra added. “We are also very hopeful that Indian partners will engage with campus. To do that, they need to see, understand, and experience Notre Dame, then think about how they can send their own students and faculty here, not just host ours.”
In several cases, initial collaborations began to broaden. St. Xavier’s, for example, is already a central partner for ND Mumbai’s India Summer Study Abroad Program and semester exchange. Being on campus together opened new questions around curriculum development and potential joint projects. IISER Pune, a long-standing research partner, began exploring additional ways to connect students on both campuses.
A memorable MOU and a seat at the research table
For the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, the conference included a moment that felt especially significant for Notre Dame Mumbai. After years of conversations, representatives from TISS and Notre Dame signed a memorandum of understanding on campus.
“In ten years and many MOUs, I had never seen an India MOU signed in person by both institutions at Notre Dame,” Mehra recalled. “The last time that happened was during Father John Jenkins’ visit to India in 2014. It was a proud moment for us.”
The partnership with TISS carries particular weight within ND Mumbai’s portfolio. As one of India’s premier social science institutions, TISS is widely known for its work on policy, social justice, and impact-driven projects across the country. “They really align with Notre Dame’s mission to be a force for good in the world,” Mehra said. “They are asking how we bring positive change where we are, and that is exactly the question Notre Dame is asking as well.”
Beyond the classroom and into South Bend
The conference was not limited to meeting rooms. Partners also had the chance to explore South Bend and see how Notre Dame connects with its local community.
Participants met with the Mayor of South Bend, visited the hydroelectric plant on the St. Joseph River, and toured sites such as Ignition Park that illustrate how the University collaborates with local organizations and industry. For many of the Indian visitors, it was eye-opening to see how a global university thinks about its own “backyard” as well as its worldwide footprint.
“People often think of universities as spaces that sit apart from the city,” Mehra said. “Our partners were pleasantly surprised to see how Notre Dame is embedded in South Bend, and how much thought goes into serving the local community as well as the global one.”
Looking ahead
As conversations from the Global Partners Conference continue, ND Mumbai is already seeing concrete ripple effects. Follow-up emails, virtual meetings, and planning calls have helped move several initiatives closer to launch, including co-funded mobility models and new academic collaborations. One example is an upcoming IISER Pune event that grew from a panel idea into a full day of research conversations and departmental engagement, building on a broader collaboration recently highlighted on the ND Mumbai Events page.
“The amount of interest and the number of ideas that surfaced during that week were remarkable,” Mehra said. “The important thing now is following up, and making sure that the traction we built on campus leads to programs and projects that actually launch.”
The Global Partners Conference may not become an annual fixture, given the extensive planning and resources involved, but Mehra hopes it will return periodically. “Bringing so many partners to campus at the same time shows just how global Notre Dame already is, and how much more we can do together,” he said.
For Notre Dame Mumbai and its partners across India, the inaugural conference did more than showcase existing work. It invited Indian institutions into the heart of campus life and set the stage for deeper, more reciprocal engagement between India and Notre Dame in the years ahead.
Originally published by at mumbai.nd.edu on December 02, 2025.