33% of Our Students Receive Scholarship Support: FLAME University VC

FLAME University’s Vice Chancellor, Dr Dishan Kamdar shared key points concerning admission, courses offered, scholarships, entrance exam accepted, and placement in an exclusive interview with shiksha.com. Read the highlights from an interactive session with FLAME University VC to learn about the educational philosophies shaping the institution and how the university is preparing students to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Q. What makes FLAME University different from other institutions?
Dr. Kamdar: FLAME University’s vision for incoming students-both undergraduate and postgraduate-is anchored in actively shaping a new era of education that is multidisciplinary, flexible, and globally relevant. For UG and PG students the university combines deep academic rigour with experiential learning, preparing them for an unpredictable and evolving world. Students have the flexibility to explore more than 350 unique major-minor combinations for academics at our NAAC A++ institute. 

We believe in the power of experiential learning, and our Discover India Program (DIP), internships, international exchange opportunities, and industry engagement initiatives are all geared towards giving students real-world experience. For students who join us, this will be a journey of intellectual curiosity, skill development, and community-building-a holistic approach that embodies FLAME’s pioneering spirit and reinforces our standing as India’s preeminent liberal education university.

Q. What entrance examination scores does FLAME University accept for admission to UG/PG courses at the university?
Dr. Kamdar: FLAME University accepts various test scores for its UG and PG courses. For undergraduate and undergraduate design programs, we consider scores from the SAT and ACT. For postgraduate courses, we accept scores from CAT, XAT, MAT, CMAT, NMAT, GMAT, and MH-CET. The university also has its own entrance test, FEAT for undergraduate programs and FDAT for undergraduate design programs for admission.

Q. Are FLAME University courses and curriculum as per the National Education Policy?
Dr. Kamdar: Yes. In alignment with the NEP 2020, FLAME University’s interdisciplinary approach is designed to cultivate critical thinking, creativity, and a holistic perspective. The university offers BA/BBA/BBA (Communications Management) / BSc Honours degrees with more than 350 major and minor combinations and a 4-year Bachelor of Design degree. 

The university also offers MBA, MBA (Communications Management), MSc (Economics), and other certificate and diploma programs. The university has introduced PhD programs in various fields. In line with the National Education Policy 2020, we offer a curriculum that breaks conventional boundaries by integrating the liberal arts, sciences, business, and technology.

Q. What is FLAME University intake on skill based learning?
Dr. Kamdar: FLAME offers Undergraduate, Undergraduate Design and Postgraduate programs. All undergraduate students are required to complete an internship with an NGO through the Developmental Activities Program. This experience exposes students to India’s socio-economic realities and challenges them to devise innovative developmental solutions. Additionally, every undergraduate student participates in the Discover India Program, an intensive course designed to deepen their understanding of India's cultural heritage, society, and economy, allowing them to explore creative solutions to the country's developmental needs.

Q. What is the student-faculty ratio at the university?
Dr. Kamdar: FLAME University maintains a peer mentor-to-student ratio of 1:11 and a faculty-to-student ratio of 1:15. These ratios are carefully structured to guarantee that every student receives the personalized attention they need to excel academically in their chosen fields.

Q. How is the placement at FLAME University? What courses attract the top recruiters?

Dr. Kamdar: FLAME University’s Career Services Office (CSO) and Higher Education Counselling Services (HECS) are dedicated to helping students chart a personalized career path. 100% of our MBA and 94% of our MBA (Communications Management) graduating class of 2024 have secured placements across various companies, sectors, and industries. A multitude of esteemed companies participated in our placement process, recruiting our students for diverse roles such as banking, consultancy, retail operations, human resources, product management, copywriting, client servicing, marketing, relationship management, business analysis, project management, and creatives.

Q. Are there any new courses introduced recently?
Dr. Kamdar: Yes, FLAME University has recently introduced several new courses to stay ahead of the curve and meet the evolving educational needs of our students.

Some of the recent additions include:

• Undergraduate Design Program with a major in Experience Design
• M.Sc. in Economics
• PhD programs in various fields

Q. Is there a scholarship facility for the students?
Dr. Kamdar: The university offers a variety of scholarships and financial assistance, including merit scholarships, need-based scholarships, and the Dean’s Scholarship, which provides fee waivers for students in good standing to take additional credits beyond their graduation requirements. Scholarships also cover expenses related to research projects, conference presentations, and field trips. Currently, 1/3rd of our student body avails some form of scholarship.

Q. How well is the infrastructure and sports facility for the students?
Dr. Kamdar: FLAME University’s campus is spread over 70 acres. Amidst all of this stands our Vivekananda Library, housing an extensive collection of 50,000+ books and digital resources. The APJ Abdul Kalam academic block is equipped with lecture theatres, classrooms, meeting rooms, a Digital Learning Lab, a Design Lab, a Computing Technologies Lab, a Financial Research Lab, a Psychology Lab, a Collaborative Research Lab, faculty offices, a lounge, and learning courtyards. 

Additionally, the Shantiniketan auditorium offers a 500+ seat auditorium for lectures and performances; conference rooms for discussions, collaborations, and knowledge-sharing; a dance studio; a seminar room; a spotlight lounge; a therapy room for relaxation and mental well-being; men's and women's dressing rooms; team rooms; and much more.

Sports are mandatory for all students. The state-of-the-art Arjuna Centre for Sports has been built with facilities for over 20 sports, covering indoor as well as outdoor games. Indoor facilities include a gymnasium, badminton court, billiards tables, squash courts, table tennis, carrom, and chess facilities, amongst others. Outdoor facilities include an international-sized cricket ground, football, tennis, basketball, and volleyball courts, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, and track and field facilities.

With more than 40 student-led clubs on campus, students can engage in diverse activities that enrich their social, cultural, and educational experiences. Additionally, there are 21 sports clubs on campus, including cricket, volleyball, basketball, badminton, and swimming clubs.

Q. Does the university offer a hostel and mess facility?
Dr. Kamdar: FLAME University is a fully residential campus. The university has areas including student, faculty, and staff housing facilities, as well as guest houses for parents, guests, and participants of executive education programs when they visit campus. Our dining facility can accommodate over 700 people and serves students healthy vegetarian meals. Besides the dining hall, there are several cafes on campus, providing several eating options to the community.

Additionally, on our campus, we also have provision stores, ATMs, photocopying facilities, an infirmary, ambulances, cycles for students to get around, and a shuttle bus connection to Pune city. Along with this, our internal shuttle bus service makes it easier for students to navigate between classes and various facilities. 

In conversation with Shiksha.com: Prof. Dishan Kamdar, Vice Chancellor, FLAME University.