When we meet at Campus Valla, there are only a few days left before the Academic Ceremony 2024, when Seetha Murty will be conferred an honorary doctor of philosophy. She has a lot on her agenda. Among other things, Seetha Murty is to lecture for teacher students and teacher educators at LiU and visit a compulsory school in Norrköping.
"Fantastic leadership"
For 15 years, she has been principal and educational director of the Silver Oaks International Schools in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam in India. These schools have thousands of students, a very good reputation, and a collaboration with LiU that stretches back almost ten years.
Seetha Murty has been a central part of this collaboration, where hundreds of LiU students over the years have completed a part of their work-based education or attended a summer course at Silver Oaks. She is also an important interlocutor in emerging research projects.
“For us, it’s very important that we have a long-term and sustainable collaboration. Silver Oaks is a high-quality school and Seetha provides fantastic leadership and works a lot on teacher development,” says Helene Elvstrand, senior associate professor at the Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning (IBL).
Seetha Murty has been acclaimed for her leadership, with a philosophy of how we can achieve a sustainable society by building common values in school education.
Proud of the collaboration
She is proud of her long-term collaboration with LiU.
“It feels very good that LiU finds our pedagogy of interest for its teachers and students. We have very motivated students, and they are often very interested to know everything about the students who come here,” she says.
Studying in India is a big challenge for many students – but, according to Helene Elvstrand, the vast majority return with very positive experiences.
“98 per cent of those who have gone to Silver Oaks have completed their education and many of them have said that their time here was one of the most important parts in their entire education. It’s an eye-opener. About global problems, about how the world works – but also about similarities and differences.”
Seetha Murty:
“It’s very hot, there’s a lot of noise, a lot of dust and an awful lot of people in India,” she says, laughing.
The appointment as honorary doctor at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences is still difficult to take in for Seetha Murty.
“I still can’t really understand it! When you put your heart into something and create good teacher education and receive such an award, it feels very good.”