The University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business offers a two-year MBA programme. The school recently announced the official signing of a collaborative agreement with Xavier Labour Relations Institute (XLRI) School of Business and Human Resources, Jamshedpur. The agreement will promote joint faculty research, joint case writing, reciprocal exchange programmes for graduate students, collaborative executive education programmes, the invitation of scholars for participation in conferences and lectures, and licensing of publishing materials.

“Through the collaboration with XLRI, we will offer students and faculty access to the latest research and innovative thinking in India — as well as the global marketplace,” said Peter Rodriguez, associate dean (international affairs), Darden School of Business. Rodriguez is also director of the school’s Tayloe Murphy International Centre.

The partnership will look to build on Darden’s tradition of global engagement. Nearly one-third of Darden’s student body comprises international students. Rodriguez stated, “Together with China, India is one of the undeniable economic powers of the 21st Century. We must learn from Indian businesses about how best to compete and innovate for the Indian economy and the rest of the world.”

The number of Indian students at Darden has more than tripled in the past five years, making India the school’s largest international market. Apart from XLRI, the school also has international partnerships with London Business School, IESE Business School, Melbourne Business School (Australia) and Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, among others.