ANNOUNCEMENTS
New Delhi [India], July 20: For generations, choosing an undergraduate degree meant selecting a single discipline and building a career around it. Today, that approach is rapidly changing. As industries become increasingly interconnected, employers are seeking graduates who can think beyond traditional academic boundaries, combine knowledge from multiple fields, and adapt to emerging challenges.
From artificial intelligence and biotechnology to sustainability and data analytics, many of the careers shaping the future no longer fit neatly within one subject. This evolution is encouraging universities to rethink how undergraduate education is designed, moving away from rigid academic structures towards flexible, interdisciplinary learning that allows students to develop both specialised expertise and broader perspectives.
The careers emerging today rarely belong to a single discipline. Whether it is economics with data analytics, environmental studies with economics, or management with sustainability, graduates with expertise across complementary disciplines are better equipped to address evolving industry and societal needs. This interdisciplinary approach develops the knowledge, adaptability, and problem-solving skills increasingly expected across industry, research, and the public sector.
Recognising these changing expectations, TERI School of Advanced Studies (TERI SAS), a UGC-recognised Deemed-to-be University established by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), is reimagining undergraduate education through interdisciplinary learning, flexible academic pathways, and a research-led approach to teaching. Building on TERI's internationally recognised legacy in sustainability research and policy, the university prepares students to understand and address real-world challenges across science, business, technology, public policy, and the environment.
Academic Flexibility for Modern Careers
One of the defining features of this new approach to undergraduate education is the flexibility it offers students to shape their academic journey. Through a Major and Minor structure, students can combine complementary disciplines to build a stronger and more relevant academic profile.
Imagine a student pursuing a Major in Economics while choosing a Minor in Data Science. Alongside developing a strong understanding of economic theory and policy, they also gain analytical and computational skills that are increasingly valued across finance, consulting, government, and research.
At TERI SAS, this interdisciplinary approach is embedded across undergraduate programmes, enabling students to personalise their learning while connecting knowledge across disciplines to suit their interests and career aspirations.
Aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP) enables students to graduate with an Honours or Honours with a Research degree. Selected programmes also offer an integrated Master's pathway, creating a seamless progression for students wishing to pursue higher studies.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Beyond the curriculum, TERI School of Advanced Studies (TERI SAS) provides a research-oriented learning environment where science, business, technology, economics, and sustainability intersect. Students engage with contemporary challenges while developing critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills that are valued across professions.
Learning also extends beyond academics through student-led clubs and campus activities that encourage leadership, teamwork, and personal development, helping students build skills and experiences outside the classroom.
Located in the heart of New Delhi, at Vasant Kunj, the university offers access to government institutions, research organisations, and industry, creating opportunities that complement classroom learning. For students relocating from other cities, TERI SAS also offers on-campus hostel facilities for girls, providing a supportive residential environment as they pursue their academic journey.
Building on TERI's recognised legacy in sustainability research and policy, TERI SAS connects classroom learning with real-world challenges, preparing graduates for careers in industry, research, public policy and higher education through a multidisciplinary perspective.
"The future of undergraduate education lies in preparing students to think beyond disciplinary boundaries. As industries evolve and societal challenges become more interconnected, universities must create opportunities for students to combine knowledge, engage with research, and develop the confidence to understand and solve real-world problems. At TERI SAS, our Four-Year Undergraduate Programmes, with options for Honours and Honours with Research, encourage students to build strong disciplinary foundations while exploring ideas across fields through interdisciplinary learning and research."
- Prof. Suman Kumar Dhar, Vice-Chancellor, TERI SAS
Choosing the Right Undergraduate Journey
Choosing an undergraduate programme today is about more than selecting a subject. It is about choosing a university that encourages curiosity, academic exploration, and lifelong learning.
With interdisciplinary pathways, research opportunities, and a future-focused curriculum, TERI School of Advanced Studies (TERI SAS) reflects a new vision of undergraduate education. It offers students the opportunity to build an education that matches their interests, supports their ambitions, and prepares them to contribute meaningfully in an increasingly interconnected world.
To learn more about undergraduate programmes, academic pathways, and admissions, visit www.terisas.ac.in.
TERI School of Advanced Studies (TERI SAS) is a UGC-recognised Deemed-to-be University established by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), one of India's leading research institutions in sustainability research and education. Located in Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, near the Aravalli Biodiversity Park, TERI SAS offers research-driven undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes across Sustainability, Energy, Data Science, Economics, Biotechnology, Climate Science, Geoinformatics, Public Policy, Renewable Energy, Management, Law, Sustainable Development, and Environmental Studies.
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The lung function tests conducted during the study revealed that the majority of respondents (39% sweepers, 33% vehicle drivers and 27% street vendors) had limited lung function.
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Health conditions of outdoor workers were also found to deteriorate because of extreme temperatures in both summer and winter, the IIT study found.(HT Photo)
Prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures and high pollution severely impacts people’s health in the national capital, a study led by scientists from the Indian Institute of Technology Tirupati has found.
People who have to work outdoors for long periods in Delhi complained of health complications, including breathing difficulties or acute lung function impairment, irregular heartbeat and chest discomfort, back, shoulder, and joint pains, eye redness and irritation, skin rashes, headaches, and overall weakness, said the study — Health impact assessment of Delhi’s outdoor workers exposed to air pollution and extreme weather events: an integrated epidemiology approach — released on Saturday.
“Over the years, air pollution in Delhi has become a significant concern. The city’s geographical location renders it particularly vulnerable to air pollution events such as smog, as well as harsh weather conditions in both summer and winter,” said co-author Suresh Jain, professor at IIT Tirupati. “Outdoor workers are among the hardest hit in such scenarios.”
Other authors of the study included Vaishnavi Barthwal, Ayushi Babuta and Chubamenla Jamir from TERI School of Advanced Studies, Dr Arun Kumar Sharma from the University College of Medical Sciences, Delhi University, and Dr Anant Mohan from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.
Researchers surveyed 283 people for the study, which included auto-rickshaw drivers, street vendors and sweepers, who have to spend the most part of their day outdoors and are constantly exposed to pollution, Jain said. The study also took into account the impact of factors such as age and smoking on lung impairment among the participants so that the actual impacts of high pollution and extreme weather conditions can be analysed better.
As much as 47% of the auto-rickshaw drivers, 47% of street vendors and 48% of sweepers reported major health impacts of prolonged exposure to outdoor pollution levels, the study found. Auto-rickshaw drivers reported the highest incidence of vision related symptoms such as redness of the eye (44%) and eye irritation (36%), while most street vendors reported headaches (43%). This could be attributed to constant exposure to vehicular pollution, the researchers said.
The lung function tests conducted during the study revealed that the majority of respondents (39% sweepers, 33% vehicle drivers and 27% street vendors) had limited lung function.
Sweepers had a higher rate of lung impairment than the other occupational groups due to the nature of their work, which involved frequent exposure to dust and particulate matter, Jain explained. “Dust inhalation during sweeping caused immediate lung function impairment and raised the risk of pulmonary disease progression. The risk increased as the period of exposure increased,” he said.
The findings of the study are important because Delhi is known to record high pollution levels, which worsens during the winter time when the air quality index in the national capital peaks several times higher than the healthy limit.
Toxic air pollution in Delhi cuts people’s lives short by roughly 10 years, making it India’s biggest threat to human health, according to the latest Air Quality Life Index report released in June 2022. Child and maternal malnutrition, in comparison, reduces average life expectancy by 1.8 years, while smoking reduces life expectancy by 1.5 years.
Health conditions of outdoor workers were also found to deteriorate because of extreme temperatures in both summer and winter, the IIT study found.
The majority of these symptoms were common among vendors (75% reported headache and giddiness, 36% rapid heartbeat, and 20% experienced fainting spells), followed by sweepers (60% had headaches, 34% had palpitations and 15% experienced fainting spells), and auto-rickshaw drivers (54% experienced headaches, 27% reported rapid heartbeats and 5% complained of fainting spells).
“We concluded that while personal habits and influencing variables such as age, smoking, tobacco use, pre-existing health disorders, and a lack of usage of acceptable safety measures might raise these workers’ sensitivity to occupational health risks, lack of proper mitigation measures and policies, long working hours, and varying work locations exacerbate their exposure to air pollution and harsh conditions,” said Jain.
Outdoor workers and people who were forced to spend long hours outside were at a greater risk of health problems owing to constant exposure to extreme weather conditions and high temperatures, other experts concurred.
“Poor people are definitely more vulnerable to the impacts of high pollution and extreme temperatures. The more your body is exposed to the toxic pollutants and very high or low temperatures, the sooner it will start showing visible health problems,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director of research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment, an advocacy group. “That is why we keep stressing that government strategies should focus on the most vulnerable.”
