WUD maintains a global outlook. It is the youngest university ever to be awarded a design and innovation capacity-building grant under the prestigious ERASMUS+ programme of the European Union. As the lead institution, WUD worked with a consortium of international partner universities including Brunel University, UK; Politecnico di Milano, Italy; University of the Aegean, Greece; and IIIT-D Delhi on the DESINNO project.
WUD has also secured a significant Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) grant to collaborate with the University of Huddersfield (UK). The project, focused on creative, place-based exploration of post office heritage in India and the UK, employs cutting-edge architectural technology to reimagine future uses of historic post office buildings.
The university is an active member of Cumulus — the international association of universities and colleges of art, design, and media, and AUTEX, the international textile and design network. It has co-hosted an international conference with EAD (European Academy of Design), reinforcing its role in global design dialogues.
WUD also participate in Erasmus mobility projects beyond DESINNO — for example, sending students to Lithuania under Erasmus mobility schemes.
The Vice Chancellor of WUD was invited to two significant BRICS events: the BRICS+ Fashion Summit in Moscow and the BRICS Architecture Summit in Kazan — positioning WUD at the forefront of international design diplomacy.
EXCHANGE AGREEMENTS & GLOBAL NETWORKS
International exposure is central to WUD’s design education philosophy. WUD has signed multiple MoUs with universities worldwide to enable reciprocal student and faculty exchanges, joint research, and immersive programmes. In the last few years. Over twenty students have participated in semester exchanges.
Current MoUs span institutions across the UK, Canada, USA, Europe, and Mexico –
United Kingdom
University of Huddersfield - Gold-rated under the UK’s Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).
Oxford Brookes University - Ranked among the world’s top universities in 15 subject areas, including Art & Design.
University of Reading - Ranked among the top 30 UK public universities; Henley Business School is triple-accredited and consistently ranked in the global top 50.
Canada
Emily Carr University of Art & Design - Canada’s top design university, ranked among the world’s best by Red Dot Design Award.
Vancouver Film School - Ranked #1 among international animation schools by Animation Career Review and among the global top 15 game design schools by The Princeton Review.
USA
University of California, Berkeley - Ranked among the world's top 2 universities.
College for Creative Studies, Michigan - Established in 1906, a leading US design college offering a wide range of creative programs.
Europe
ENSAIT, France - Leading textile education and research institution with over 130 years of history.
HAMK, Finland - One of Finland’s largest universities of applied sciences.
University of Nicosia, Cyprus - Largest university in Cyprus, ranked among the top 100 in the Emerging Europe & Central Asia region.
Utrecht University, Netherlands - Ranked 1st in the Netherlands and among the top 75 globally.
Kauno Kolegija, Lithuania - Largest applied sciences university in the Baltic region.
Banat's University, Romania - Noted for expertise in landscape design and life sciences.
Mexico
Universidad De Monterrey (UDEM) - Listed in QS Top 50 Under 50.
UPAEP - Ranked among the top 22% of universities worldwide.
MEMBERSHIPS
WUD is a full member of Cumulus - the International association of universities & colleges of art, design, and media — giving it access to over 160 institutions across 60+ countries. As also of AUTEX, the international textile and design network.
GLOBAL PARTICIPATION & EXPOSURE
WUD has hosted and co-hosted international forums such as the Global Goals Jam (UNDP, MediaLab Amsterdam), Speculative Futures (USA), and Design Across Cultures (Netherlands with partners from the USA, Brazil, Germany, Italy, and Korea).
Additionally, WUD leads the biennial International Conference on Functional Textiles & Clothing (in collaboration with IIT Delhi), with proceedings published by Springer. . It has co-hosted an international conference on Doctoral Education in Design with EAD (European Academy of Design), reinforcing its role in global design dialogues. The university also hosts Anveshana, India’s first International Performing Arts Conference—bridging Indian heritage with innovation through global dialogues and performances.
Eminent international scholars have visited the campus, including: Prof. Osmud Rehman, Ryerson University, Canada; Prof. Elizabeth Rose, University of Otago, New Zealand; Prof. Paul Inman, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Oxford Brookes University, UK; Prof. Parik Goswami, University of Huddersfield, UK; Prof. Alessandro Biamonti, Politecnico di Milano, Italy; Prof. Mark Watson, RMIT, Australia and many more.
These engagements ensure WUD students and faculty remain connected to the latest global thinking, trends, and networks in design and creative education.
GLOBAL OFFICE CONTACTS
Ms. Rigu Bansal
Director International
global@wud.ac.in
Ms. Sanmitra Chitte
Professor - Global Engagements
global@wud.ac.in
