KREA University, situated in Sri City, Andhra Pradesh, is known for its "Interwoven Learning" model, which integrates liberal arts, natural sciences, social sciences, and management education. The university's academic framework is driven by two main schools: the School of Interwoven Arts and Sciences (SIAS) and the IFMR Graduate School of Business (IFMR GSB).
The faculty at KREA University consists of scholars, researchers, and global practitioners. A vast majority of the core faculty hold doctoral degrees (Ph.D.) from top institutions in India and abroad, including IITs, IIMs, IISc, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), University of Oxford, Harvard, and Cambridge.
In addition to core academic faculty, KREA regularly engages Professors of Practice—professionals with long-standing industry, artistic, or policy experience—and distinguished visiting scholars to bridge theoretical concepts with practical application.
The teaching staff brings together corporate leadership, field research, and public policy experience:
KREA University maintains a low student–faculty ratio of approximately 1:10 to 1:12. This small ratio is designed to foster a personal learning environment, where students receive continuous feedback, individual capstone project supervision, and direct faculty mentorship throughout their undergraduate or postgraduate studies.
Pedagogical & Teaching Methods
The university's teaching methodology emphasizes critical inquiry over rote memorization:
Name
Designation / Academic Title
Department / School
Highest Qualification
Area of Focus / Specialization
Prof. S. Sivakumar
Professor & Dean of Research
Physics / SIAS
Ph.D.
Theoretical Physics & Quantum Optics
Prof. Lakshmi Kumar
Professor & Dean
IFMR Graduate School of Business
Financial Inclusion, Microfinance & Economics
Dr. Prithvi Datta Chandra Shobhi
Associate Professor & Dean
History / SIAS
Social History, Cultural Studies & Literature
Prof. Hariharan Krishnan
Professor of Practice & Arts Director
Media Lab / Arts & Literature
Masters / Professional
Film Direction, Media Production & Visual Arts
Prayaag Akbar
Senior Fellow
Arts and Literature
Postgraduate
Journalism, Creative Writing & Narrative Arts
Dr. Swarnamalya Ganesh
Assistant Professor of Practice
Arts & Performing Arts
Performance Studies, Dance History & Heritage
Dr. Jyoti Prasad Mukhopadhyay
Associate Professor
Economics / IFMR GSB
Applied Microeconomics & Development Economics
Dr. Ankit Singhal
Assistant Professor
Finance & Accounting / IFMR GSB
Quantitative Finance & Financial Markets
Dr. Ankur Paliwal
Finance & Management / IFMR GSB
Corporate Finance & Capital Structure
Dr. Shivani Jadeja
Faculty Member / Academic Council
Biological Sciences / SIAS
Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Environmental Studies
Q1. What qualifications do faculty members hold at KREA University?
Ans. Most core faculty members hold Ph.D. degrees from top domestic (IITs, IIMs, IISc, JNU) and international universities (Harvard, Oxford, Cambridge). Professors of Practice and visiting instructors bring extensive industry and creative leadership experience.
Q2. What is the student–faculty ratio at KREA University?
Ans. The university maintains a low student–faculty ratio of around 1:10 to 1:12, ensuring small seminar-style classes and close faculty mentorship.
Q3. How do faculty integrate practical industry experience into teaching?
Ans. Faculty utilize real-world business cases, field investigations, collaborative research with centers like J-PAL and WELL Labs, and industry-led capstone projects.
Q4. Are visiting and global faculty involved in classroom instruction?
Ans. Yes, KREA regularly invites visiting professors, researchers, and global scholars to teach elective modules, deliver guest lectures, and mentor research projects.
Q5. How does faculty assist students in writing and academic research?
Ans. Faculty work alongside specialized academic setups like the Centre for Writing and Pedagogy (CWP) to mentor students individually on research essays, analytical papers, and capstone projects.
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