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Amid Racial Backlash, Why NYU Named Its Engineering School After This Indian-Origin Couple
Amid Racial Backlash, Why NYU Named Its Engineering School After This Indian-Origin Couple

News18

time16 hours ago

  • Business
  • News18

Amid Racial Backlash, Why NYU Named Its Engineering School After This Indian-Origin Couple

Last Updated: NYU Tandon School of Engineering is named after philanthropists Chandrika and Ranjan Tandon. Know all about the powerful Indian-American couple, New York University's School of Engineering was renamed the NYU Tandon School of Engineering in 2015. Recently, a video showing its graduates landing jobs at major tech firms like Google and Amazon, received several racial comments. The video was filmed during the graduation ceremony at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering. Students were sharing that they have secured lucrative job offers. However, instead of praise, the video received hate comments against Indians. This is to be noted NYU's college, facing backlash in the video, is named after an Indian-origin couple- Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon and Ranjan Tandon. In 2015, the Indian-American philanthropists donated a $100 million gift to the U.S. engineering school; it is one of the largest donations received by the University. Who are Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon and Ranjan Tandon? Former McKinsey & Company partner and founder of Tandon Capital Associates, Chandrika Tandon, still plays a crucial role at NYU as she serves as a trustee and chairs both the NYU Tandon School of Engineering and the university's President's Global Council. Chandrika's work towards the education sector is one of the biggest highlights. She is the founder and patron of Madras Christian College's Boyd-Tandon School of Business. She is also a member of Yale University's President's Council of International Activities and her Foundation has established faculty Chairs at Yale and Harvard Universities. She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Investment Committee and serves as a Governor of the New York Academy of Sciences. Her husband, Ranjan Tandon, is an IIT Kanpur and Harvard Business School alumnus. He is the founder and chairman of Libra Advisors. view comments First Published: August 15, 2025, 18:03 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Why New York University Named Its Engineering School After An Indian-Origin Couple
Why New York University Named Its Engineering School After An Indian-Origin Couple

NDTV

time18 hours ago

  • Business
  • NDTV

Why New York University Named Its Engineering School After An Indian-Origin Couple

In 2015, New York University's School of Engineering was renamed the NYU Tandon School of Engineering after receiving a $100 million gift from Indian-American philanthropists Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon and Ranjan Tandon. The landmark donation, among the largest ever to a U.S. engineering school, recognised the couple's commitment to advancing technology, innovation, and education. Chandrika Tandon, a former McKinsey & Company partner and founder of Tandon Capital Associates, continues to play a pivotal role at NYU. She serves as a trustee and chairs both the NYU Tandon School of Engineering and the university's President's Global Council. Beyond academia, she leads philanthropic projects through the Krishnamurthy Tandon Foundation and is an accomplished musician, winning a Grammy in 2025 for her album Triveni after a previous nomination for Soul is the sister of PepsiCo's former CEO, Indra Nooyi. Ranjan Tandon, an IIT Kanpur and Harvard Business School alumnus, is the founder and chairman of Libra Advisors. Initially launched as a hedge fund in 1990, the firm is now a family office known for its strong investment track record. His professional experience spans senior roles in global finance and operations, while his philanthropic efforts include significant contributions to universities worldwide. According to a release by the NYU, the Tandons' donation was intended to strengthen NYU's engineering programs by funding research, attracting top-tier faculty, and expanding scholarships for deserving students. University officials say the gift reflects not only the couple's generosity but also their belief in empowering the next generation of innovators and renaming stands as a lasting symbol of their impact on higher education.

Racist Comments Flood Video Of US University Graduates Securing Top Tech Jobs
Racist Comments Flood Video Of US University Graduates Securing Top Tech Jobs

NDTV

time2 days ago

  • Entertainment
  • NDTV

Racist Comments Flood Video Of US University Graduates Securing Top Tech Jobs

A video from NYU Tandon School of Engineering showcasing students securing jobs at tech giants like Google and Amazon sparked racist backlash online. The video showed an interviewer approaching students with a microphone during their graduation ceremony, asking them about their post-college plans and capturing their responses. Shared on Instagram by @nyutandon, the video featured students, many of whom appeared to be of South Asian descent, announcing their job offers. While intended to celebrate their achievements, it drew hateful comments on platforms like Instagram and X, targeting their perceived Indian or Chinese backgrounds. In the video, one woman said that she landed a software engineer role at Google, and another secured a position at Amazon in Seattle. Users noted the students' South Asian descent based on their appearance and accents, sparking debate. "Engineering students reveal their job offers in the tech industry," the video was captioned. Watch the video here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by NYU School of Engineering (@nyutandon) Comments on Instagram and posts on X revealed a barrage of hateful rhetoric, with users mocking the students' accents, names, and ethnicities. Some expressed resentment, claiming that "foreigners" were "stealing" high-paying tech jobs from American citizens. One user wrote, "Indians and Chinese joining big tech giants in US, meanwhile Mr. Donald Trump." Another commented, "They are all Asian and they got a scholarship to study in America given by America, but American students can't get scholarships when their parents are the one paying taxes. It doesn't make sense to me." A third said, "Americans raise their kids to worship taylor swift and Beyonce while other cultures are raising tech powerhouses and scientists." A fourth added, "All these immigrants making amaerican great." The comments reflect a broader wave of anti-immigrant sentiment, particularly against South Asians, amid debates over skilled immigration and H-1B visas. Indians make up a significant portion of H-1B visa recipients--about 70% of the 85,000 visas issued annually, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services data.

Curriculum Reimagined: How Hands-On Disability Studies Is Transforming Engineering Education
Curriculum Reimagined: How Hands-On Disability Studies Is Transforming Engineering Education

Time Business News

time04-06-2025

  • Health
  • Time Business News

Curriculum Reimagined: How Hands-On Disability Studies Is Transforming Engineering Education

Disability has often been framed as a challenge to be solved—until recently, that is. Across top universities, a new wave of engineering courses is reframing disability not as a 'problem' but as a design opportunity. By embedding students directly in collaborative labs with end-users, these programs are reshaping both curricula and campus culture. Early champions even shared student projects on platforms like which once showcased co-design films pairing engineers with people with disabilities. Traditional engineering education prioritizes theory: mechanics, circuits, control systems. In contrast, hands-on disability studies courses replace some lectures with real-world workshops: NYU Tandon School of Engineering offers 'Ability-Based Design,' where students prototype assistive devices alongside individuals who live with disabilities. offers 'Ability-Based Design,' where students prototype assistive devices alongside individuals who live with disabilities. University of Pittsburgh's Swanson School runs a 'Design for Accessibility' studio, connecting engineering cohorts with local rehabilitation centers. runs a 'Design for Accessibility' studio, connecting engineering cohorts with local rehabilitation centers. MIT's D-Lab hosts disability-innovation sprints, inviting product-design majors to reimagine everyday objects. These formats converge on a common method: participatory design. Rather than designing in isolation, students conduct user interviews, observe daily routines, and co-create prototypes that respond to genuine needs. A key shift lies in narrative: students learn to see users as partners, not test subjects. In NYU's course, for example, one team worked with a jazz musician who uses a wheelchair. Their final prototype wasn't just a custom cupholder—it was a modular console that mounts equipment, wirelessly controls pedals, and folds away for social performances. Participants report that these projects build empathy faster than any case study can. As one senior reflected in a campus publication, 'Meeting Sam [the musician] in his home studio changed my approach to problem-solving. I stopped designing for abstractions and started designing for real people.' Hands-on disability curricula also integrate discussions on regulatory frameworks and funding landscapes. Students study: FDA guidelines for medical devices for medical devices Reimbursement mechanisms through health insurance through health insurance Intellectual-property considerations for open-source assistive hardware By coupling prototyping with policy analysis, graduates emerge prepared not just to invent but to shepherd products through complex approval processes. This holistic training contrasts sharply with siloed engineering tracks of the past. Despite clear benefits, these programs face hurdles: Resource Intensity: Lab equipment, staff for user coordination, and small class sizes drive up costs. Scalability: It's difficult to expand participatory labs to hundreds of students without diluting quality. Assessment Metrics: Traditional grading struggles to capture collaborative skills and social impact. Some institutions are experimenting with hybrid models—online modules for policy content paired with in-person design sprints. Others are partnering with community organizations to share costs and broaden participant pools. To mainstream hands-on disability studies, experts suggest: Cross-departmental Integration: Embed modules in mechanical, electrical, and industrial design programs, not just specialized electives. Embed modules in mechanical, electrical, and industrial design programs, not just specialized electives. Industry Collaborations: Engage assistive-tech companies to sponsor equipment and mentor teams. Engage assistive-tech companies to sponsor equipment and mentor teams. Alumni Networks: Maintain online archives (akin to the former ) to showcase student work, attract partnerships, and inspire future cohorts. As employers seek engineers with both technical prowess and social awareness, participatory disability curricula offer a competitive advantage. Graduates from these programs report stronger job offers in areas ranging from consumer-electronics accessibility to inclusive urban planning. The era when disability was taught only in abstract ethics lectures is ending. By situating students in collaborative maker spaces—and by learning from early showcases once hosted on platforms like are training engineers who can innovate responsibly and inclusively. In doing so, they're not only advancing technology but also redefining what it means to design for everyone. TIME BUSINESS NEWS

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