The communications services group, WPP has forayed into Indian education sector by joining hands with Indian School of Design and Innovation (ISDI) to launch the ISDI WPP School of Communication campus in Mumbai.
The partnership aims to create a professional three-year undergraduate certification programme in communication. The programme will be based on the work-study model merging academic and creative curriculum combined with practical application.
The campus was inaugurated by Martin Sorrell, CEO of WPP along with its inaugural batch of 60 students.
With an aim to provide students a balanced work-study environment, senior management from WPP companies and industry academicians are mentoring the programme serving as part-time faculty.
“At our recent meeting with Prime Minister Modi in New York organised by Rupert and James Murdoch, he suggested the media industry develop universities to train and develop the considerable young talent India has. This initiative represents WPPs initial response to the Prime Ministers challenge. It is a small, but significant first step,” said the WPP CEO, Martin Sorrell according to a press statement.
“Indian School of Design and Innovation (ISDI) is laser focused on building a new-gen ecosystem of design & innovation driven by creative entrepreneurship in India,” said Radha Kapoor, Founder and Executive Director at ISDI.
“As Indian entrepreneurship leapfrogs in today's globalised economy, effective communication with confidence & conviction amongst Indian entrepreneurs will be a key factor for achievement of success. This is in fullest consonance for actualisation of Digital India.”
During the inauguration, students also interacted with Sorrell of WPP and shared their first 90 days journey at ISDI|WPP's Lower Parel campus. The school had commenced in August with a week-long orientation. Students are currently gearing up for their first internship with WPP agencies in December.
To attract the right talent, the institute has awarded a mix of merit-based and aid scholarships to students based on a rigorous interview & screening process. Scholarships include aid based scholarships by WPP, Grey, ISDI and merit scholarships by ISDI.
The school will offer students a three-year undergraduate programme, wherein, the first year comprises of basic marketing and communication subjects and the second and third year offers students four major specialisations to choose from – advertising and communications, media, activation and digital marketing and public relations.