When Albert Einstein said that creativity is nothing but intelligence having fun, it really meant catering to the passive skills like passion, curiosity, etc., that creative person instills in themselves. However, in this modern world, that seed of creativity had to be sowed somewhere and at some time.

Creativity, on the other hand, is not just limited to the field of arts. Intelligent people have seen doing creative things in scientific discoveries and even in making a fruit named technology start-up to a bigger than life company. But the question often arises, where do these creative people get that idea, and where are these passive skills developed? Well, in this formal education structure, the seed of creativity is sowed during the very first step of formal education.

Catering to that need for the instilled creativity and the other necessary passive skills to make the future generation a complete package of intelligence, having fun with creation to have a global impact, CMR University was started.

With a humble beginning and small beginning in the backyard of the CMR family, CMR started its first kindergarten and, over the years, contributed to making education fun and the younger generation creative.

The Ethos of CMR University

CMRU’s strength and backbone throughout the years of its establishment have been – the late Sri Chikka Muniyappa Reddy, a visionary and educationist in whose memory the CMR Jnanadhara trust was established as a tribute in the year 1991. The Trust strives to deliver quality education through its institutions of learning.

With a small and humble beginning as a kindergarten school in the CMR family’s orchard, it has now reached the major milestone of establishing its own private university, CMR University (CMRU), Bangalore. CMR is a private university in the state of Karnataka, established under Act 45 of 2013. The University has established state-of-the-art campus in Bengaluru equipped with all amenities that provide an intellectually stimulating learning environment.

CMRU is the first Indian Private University to implement Design Thinking problem solving approach across all its Schools. Students of disciplines as varied as Management Law, Engineering, Architecture, Science, Humanities etc., all study methodologies of Problem-solving via Design Thinking processes and focus on creative solutions to some of the most pressing and important global and local challenges.

Vision

“To nurture creative thinkers who will drive positive global change.”

The Pedagogy and Philosophy

CMR University advocates creativity and imagination as vital skills required to excel in this complex world. Academic programmes offered within the university are varied and cover wide areas of study such as Architecture, Design, Engineering and Technology, Economics & Commerce, Law, Management, Science Studies, Social Sciences & Humanities, Education. To promote overall education and a growth-inducing learning environment, CMRU has two important Programmes to enhance and explore the abilities of each student-centred learning.

Taking Challenges, Head On

CMRU is at par with the changing dynamics of education globally in offering a holistic environment, having conversations on intersections and inclusivity, promoting learning through practicality, and offering more functional knowledge than theories. Post the unprecedented lockdown, CMRU has been focusing specifically on the Mental Health of its students.

Aiming to make the Indian youth mentally equipped to adjust to the newly and rapidly changing environment, the Department of Psychology from the School of Social Sciences and Humanities has set up a Well-Being Center, which includes a comfort zone and non – judgmental space assured for the students to engage in personal cum professional conversation with the staff.

While facing the challenges put forth by the global changes in the education system, CMRU strives to “Strongly hold on to the promising aspects of the Indian Education system and leave behind the unpromising one”

While illustrating the overall outlook of the university, Dr Sabitha Ramamurthy says, “CMRU highly acknowledges the latest National Education Policy and strives to adhere to it. CMRU focuses heavily on the instructional core and learning process. It deploys digital education at the right amount for accessibility, learning and teaching. We strive to build a strong, trustworthy relationship between parents and teachers. We are continuously seeking to build new approaches for the betterment of the students.”

Innovative Design Thinking Programme

The Design Thinking Programme (DTP) was introduced mandatorily for students across the Schools to learn through design-led innovation. DTP acknowledges the human being’s function with varied perspectives and emotions and offers engagement and dialogues that are academically relevant.

Secondly, the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) provides students with opportunities, learning through Learning, Engagement and Advancement Programs (LEAP). While speaking about it further, Dr Ramamurthy explains, “Our students learn, regardless of their area of study, creative concepts and design thinking, offered under the core curriculum. Students are encouraged to practice real–life skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, initiative, and research.”

CMRU also fosters a creative community where new ideas can be developed, nurtured and shared. CMRU is focussed in amplifying student voices, supporting student-led events, and creating a student-centric environment at the University. The management at the university believes that all students should have a plethora of learning opportunities, workshops and transformative experiences during their time at the university.

While sharing the operations of the management and staff, Dr Ramamurthy asserts, “The faculty at the university operates on friendly terms moving away from the notions of a conventional college teacher. The faculty engage in meaningful discussion on contemporary trends, policies and changes with the students and incorporate it into the courses that they are handling. Rather than the chalk and talk method of teaching, we are adopting research-based strategies to help the students learn better.”

Collaborations with Prominent Global Education Organizations

The CMR University has several educational and industrial collaborations with Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICAI), Association of Chartered Certificate Accountants (ACCA), Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), NASSCOM (IT – ITES Sector Skills Council), IBM, United Nations Global Compact (PRME Educational Initiative), Institute of Product Leadership (IPL), Seamedu, Daffodil International University in Bangladesh, International Student Exchange Program (ISEP), USA, Ariel University in Israel, Ural Federal University in Russia, the University of Grand Bassam in Ivory Coast, AIESEC – a non – profit youth-run organization, Al Zaiem Al Azhari University in Sudan, National Law School of India University, University of Huddersfield West Yorkshire in The United Kingdom, Kyungpook National University in South Korea Almaty Management University in Republic of Kazakhstan and Philippines.

In its quest to provide experiential learning to its students, CMRU has also entered into partnership / membership with several leading industry bodies and organizations like Feedback Insights, CII, National HRD Network, FKCCI, All India Management Association, and Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce, The Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (IETE), “Association of Management Development Institutions in South Asia” (AMDISA), WDO, (ASSOCHAM). Computer Society of India (CSI), Institutions of Engineers India (IEI), ELIA (European League of Institutes of the Arts).

Awards and Accreditations

The eminent CMR University has won many prestigious awards and accreditation for its quality in education and contribution to transform it. Some of them are mentioned below:

• “Perfect Workplace for Women” and Five Star place to work by Artificial Intelligence Registration and Certification Limited, United Kingdom (UK), 2022.
• Best University in South India and Best University in South India Industry Interface for excellence in Academics, Research, and Industry Interface in the year 2022 by Center of Education Growth and Research, New Delhi.
• Veritas Assurance International, United Kingdom, UK, has provided CMRU with ISO certifications of Food Safety Management System – ISO 22000:2018, Quality Management System – ISO 9001 – 2015, Information Security Management System – ISO / IEC 27001: 2013 and Environmental Management System – ISO 14001: 2015 in the year 2022.
• CMR University has an international accreditation for best performance in organizational management, academics management and institutional performance from International Accreditation Organization (IAO) from the year 2022 to 2027. Quality Council of India Schemed, Workplace Assessment for Safety and Hygiene (WASH) – certification is achieved by CMRU in the year 2022.
• World Institutional Ranking has certified CMRU as practicing Sustainable Education in Pursuit of Excellence towards offering Holistic and Global Education and ranked it 10th in Green Institutional Rankings.
• Emerging university of the year 2022, University of Eminence and Best Place to work (under Deemed & Private University Category), 15th All India Rank under the State Private University Criteria, 6th Rank State and South Zone wise in the IIRF Ranking.
• World Institutional Ranking ranked CMRU within the Top 40 Institute Rank (in the year 2022) – All in Level.

Focused Fundamental Direction and Vision for the Future

CMR University offers PhD in 22 disciplines covering eight Schools. The rules and regulations of UGC govern the program.

CMRU has also established the Training & Placement Division with a vision of enabling every student of CMRU on their life skills, Personality Development, preparing students for their higher education aspirations, and grooming graduates for facing interviews and recruitment tests by Campus recruiters. The Career Preparedness Programme is driven right from the first Semester, and it is offered under the Discover – Build – Deliver (DBD) model.

At CMR, students are counselled on their career options, opportunities in public sector enterprises, Central Government Jobs, State Government jobs etc. CRM has achieved 95% + placements of our students in the year 2021 – 22.