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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There is a need for a wider research and debate to arrive at the energy specific subsidies, which may be offered to to the socially unprivileged.
New Delhi: There have been recent discussions focusing on energy related support measures, both at the international level as well as within India. Availability of energy, and its affordability, has got severely impacted due to an unexpected military conflict in Europe. This has also halted global energy transition, which was moving at a smooth pace under the net-zero commitments, amidst large-scale adoption of renewables. And, within our own country, a debate has got spurred on energy related support measures for the lesser affluent sections of the society.
As part of our research work, we estimated the consumption of energy, encompassing both electric and non-electric formats, along with the related costs, to arrive at the percentage energy expenditure of an individual as part of her annual income. We undertook this study for the six states of India - Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab.
Our analysis showed that annual per capita consumption of energy was in the range of 300 kgoe, equally split between electrical and non-electrical formats (refer figure 1). Within the fossil group, diesel was having a high share, indicating its widespread use as a commercial fuel. In terms of energy related expenses, our study depicted a range from INR 15,000 - 20,000, with a slightly higher share attributed to non-electric energy (refer figure 2). In terms of energy expenses as a share of annual per capita earnings, this research indicated a range of 12-15%, similar to global average values (refer figure 3).
Per capita income and per capita electricity consumption for these states was obtained from the RBI datasets. State-wise consumption of non-electric fuels (LPG, diesel and gasoline), as taken from PPAC report, was divided by the states’ population to arrive at the per capita energy consumption. Energy consumption in all forms was converted into oil equivalent terms, using standard calorific values. Tariff for electricity was computed by dividing the revenue generated with the sale of power, for domestic category of consumers (PFC dataset). For non-electric fuels, prices as prevalent during March 2019 were taken taken from the portal petroldieselprice.com.
Evolving technologies, innovative business models and opening up of energy markets, accentuated by decarbonization and electrification of the economy, had made it a challenge for the stakeholders in terms of choosing the most optimum format, among all possible permutations. Policy makers may need to choose from the various forms of energy which are required to be subsidized and the possible alternatives.
End-consumers may seek clarity in terms of fuel availability at stable price-points, with minimal change(s) in regulations. For example, subsidized tariff for consumers, amidst increasing prices of LPG and gasoline, may nudge households to adopt induction cookstoves and EVs. Similarly, rationalizing power tariffs and the proposed carbon taxation, under the Energy Conservation Act, may accelerate deployment of solar rooftop systems. Any increase in price of CNG may encourage Bio-CNG based flexi- fuel vehicles. Options shall increase the elasticity of energy consumption, typically considered inelastic.
This calls for a wider research and debate to arrive at the energy specific subsidies, which may be offered to the socially unprivileged. As a first step, minimum lifeline energy requirements can be estimated for different states, considering the existing level of expenses, climatic conditions, besides their social and demographic parameters. Other factors can include locally available fuel esources, conversion technology and the associated energy output (kgoe), market price, carbon intensity along with alternatives.
Subsidies can be extended in terms of total calorific value in place of monetary terms, possibly pegged to their carbon intensity.
This strategy shall enable a consumer opting for the most economical form of energy, which is technologically sound besides being environmentally benign, leading to sustainable and inclusive development of the Indian economy.
[This piece was written exclusively for ETEnergyworld by Dr Sapan Thapar, Head, Department of Sustainable Engineering, TERI School of Advanced Studies].
