Skip to Main Content

News Story

October 17, 2025

La Roche University Signs MOU with Avantika University, Strengthening Global Academic and Innovation Ties

 Group of seven individuals standing side by side with the La Roche University “Where will your wings take you?” wings graphic in the background. One person is displaying a certificate towards the camera. They are dressed in business attire.

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 17, 2025 – La Roche University has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Avantika University in Ujjain, India—marking an important step forward in the University’s mission to foster international collaboration and academic innovation. 

The agreement was formally signed by Dr. Christina Clark, President of La Roche University, and Dr. Nitin Rane, Vice Chancellor of Avantika University. This partnership establishes a framework for cooperative academic initiatives that promote cross-cultural engagement, innovation, and mutual development between the two institutions.

Under the terms of the MOU, La Roche University and Avantika University will collaborate on a variety of academic endeavors, including student and faculty exchanges, joint research and design projects, co-hosted academic workshops and seminars, and the development of collaborative academic programs. The institutions also will explore dual-degree pathways and short-term study opportunities, expanding access to global learning and professional development experiences. 

Founded in 2017, Avantika University is located in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, and is part of the MIT Pune Group of Institutions—one of India’s most prestigious and respected educational networks. With a vision of “Designing Better Futures,” Avantika integrates design, technology, and engineering to offer a multidisciplinary, innovation-driven educational experience. 

Avantika offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in design, engineering, management, and liberal education. Its academic model emphasizes experiential and project-based learning, cultivating students’ creativity, analytical thinking, and entrepreneurial mindset. The university’s core philosophy— “Create, Change, and Transform,”—drives its commitment to sustainability, interdisciplinary learning, and global engagement.

The campus features state-of-the-art facilities, including advanced design studios, modern laboratories, and collaborative maker spaces, all designed to foster creativity and applied problem-solving. Through its unique academic approach, Avantika University prepares students to become socially responsible innovators capable of addressing complex, real-world challenges.

This collaboration provides an opportunity for La Roche to engage with Avantika’s strengths in design and innovation, while contributing its own expertise in the liberal arts and professional disciplines. Together, the two institutions aim to offer transformative educational opportunities that benefit students, faculty, and global communities alike. 

“This partnership with Avantika University reflects La Roche University’s deep commitment to global education and innovation, said La Roche University President Christina Clark, Ph.D. “By working together, we can enhance academic excellence, foster intercultural understanding, and prepare our students to lead in a rapidly changing world.” 

Through this collaboration, La Roche University and Avantika University affirm their shared dedication to advancing accessible, high-quality education and preparing students to thrive in an increasingly interconnected and complex global society.  

About La Roche University: An independent liberal arts university in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, La Roche University offers 71 undergraduate programs of study, eight master’s degrees and two doctoral degrees, with particular strengths in education, business, criminal justice, cybersecurity and forensics, psychology, nursing, and health and medical sciences as well as interior architecture & design and graphic design. This residential university provides a vibrant campus community for women and men enjoying multiple student organizations and an exciting NCAA Div. III athletics program. Founded by the Sisters of Divine Providence in 1963, La Roche University embraces its Catholic heritage while welcoming people of all faiths and backgrounds. With a legacy of social justice and a commitment to international exchange, La Roche University educates students to be lifelong learners and achievers in an increasingly diverse and global society.

###