Lehigh University and Agastya International Foundation Deepen Partnership to Advance Educational Innovation

Lehigh University and Agastya International Foundation Deepen Partnership to Advance Educational Innovation
 

Lehigh University and Agastya International Foundation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand collaboration in education, research, and academic development. The agreement reinforces a shared mission to advance creativity, critical thinking, and equitable access to innovation-driven learning.

Agastya International Foundation, a pioneering nonprofit based in India, aims to impact 100 million underserved children and 1 million teachers by 2032. The organization is recognized globally for its mobile science labs, teacher training programs, and hands-on STEM education—initiatives designed to spark curiosity and creativity in communities with limited access to traditional resources.

The Office of Creative Inquiry began partnering with Agastya in 2023. Through the Global Social Impact Fellowship (#GSIF), students and faculty are currently working on a range of educational and technology-focused initiatives that support diverse learning communities across India.

As part of the ongoing partnership, five GSIF project teams will travel to India for fieldwork from May 18–June 7. The teams will collaborate with Agastya on the following initiatives:

• Integrating Making and Design Thinking into Mobile Science Labs
• RAISE: Responsible Use of Generative AI in K–12 STEAM Education
• HDSE Academy: Humanitarian Design and Social Enterprise (in partnership with IUCEE)
• MathPal: Where Students and AI Team Up to Conquer Math
• Creating the Climate Change Learning Center of the Future

Reflecting on the significance of this collaboration, Khanjan Mehta, Vice Provost for Creative Inquiry, emphasized the aligned values between the two institutions.

"Lehigh and Agastya share a common belief in experiential learning, human-centered innovation, and democratizing access to high-quality education," Mehta said. "Together, we can co-create transformative programs that empower learners to tackle real-world challenges and drive meaningful, lasting change."

Adding perspective on the broader academic mission, William Gaudelli, Senior Vice Provost for Educational Innovation and Assessment, underscored the partnership’s role in Lehigh’s global strategy.

“As Lehigh strengthens its global presence, partnerships like this one with Agastya are central to our mission,” Gaudelli said. “By engaging students in socially impactful, real-world problem solving, we’re not only enriching their education—we’re contributing to scalable solutions with lasting value.”

Highlighting how this collaboration connects efforts across campus, Stacy L. Burger, Director of Global Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives in the Office of International Affairs, noted the importance of university-wide cooperation in expanding global learning opportunities.

“This partnership reflects the power of cross-campus collaboration to create deeply meaningful global experiences for students,” Burger said. “By working closely with colleagues across the university, we help open doors for students to engage with communities and challenges around the world in thoughtful, impactful ways.”

From Agastya’s perspective, the enthusiasm for continued collaboration is equally strong.

“Agastya is excited to welcome Lehigh students and faculty to co-create and co-innovate in our ecosystem,” said Ramji Raghavan, founder and chairperson of Agastya International Foundation. “Together, we are nurturing a new generation of changemakers who will imagine and build a more inclusive, creative, and sustainable future.”