Whistling Woods, DY Patil Group set up film & media school in Pune

By A Correspondent

The DY Patil Group and Whistling Woods International have announced that they are jointly setting up an Institute of Film, Media & Communication. The DY Patil – Whistling Woods Film & Media School will be set up in the DY Patil Knowledge City in Pune.

The DYP – WWI Film & Media School will begin operations in August this year. The collaborative film and media school will offer students from across the country integrated undergraduate courses in film-making, animation, media and communication, and a MBA in Media & Entertainment. The three-year degree film-making course will feature a twinning model where the students will spend the final 18 months at the Whistling Woods Mumbai campus and so be exposed to the cultural experience of studying in Mumbai’s Film City.

Announcing the alliance with the illustrious DY Patil Group, Subhash Ghai, Founder & Chairman – Whistling Woods International, said “It is a great privilege for Whistling Woods to be associated with a university of this stature. Over the past year or so, we have been exploring opportunities to expand nationally, and in the institute being set up jointly in Pune, we have found the perfect partner in the DY Patil Group. Whistling Woods is here to stay and this is one step towards expansion with many more to come.”

On the partnership between WWI and the DY Patil Group, Dr Ajeenkya D Y Patil, Chairman, DY Patil Group, commented, “We are delighted that our two institutions have joined forces. I am convinced that the institute of Film, Media and Communication will raise the bar further for professional media education in India. Our vision is to help shape young lives by providing them cutting-edge professional education and training for rewarding and fulfilling careers in the high-growth sector of media & entertainment.”

Dr Patil added, “I am delighted to announce that Pavan R Chawla, a respected and award-winning media & entertainment professional with close to 25 years of rich and varied experience in content and communication with some of the biggest and best M&E brands in India, has joined us as Dean of the DYP-WWI Institute of Film, Media & Communication in Pune. He has a large and impressive body of professional achievements, and I am sure he will be a driving force to achieve our joint vision for the institute.”

Meghna Ghai-Puri, President, WWI, commented, “DY Patil and Whistling Woods International are two institutions that have earned a great reputation in education. It is extremely exciting to be associated with a renowned Institution such as DY Patil, and we look forward to a very successful partnership in the future.”