<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The purpose of joining NICMAR University, particularly the School of Architecture and Planning in Pune, is aligned with my academic journey and professional aspirations. As an architect and urban &amp; regional planner, I have always believed that architecture is most meaningful when design intent is connected to execution, management, and real-world impact. NICMAR's strength in bridging conceptualisation with implementation &mdash; within both national and international contexts &mdash; reflects the kind of academic culture I seek to be part of.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">For the past eight semesters, I have been teaching B.Arch. students, primarily engaging with design studios and core architectural subjects. My teaching philosophy has centred on design thinking as a process rather than a product. I encourage students to explore, question, test, and refine ideas through studio work, material experimentation, model making, and contextual understanding. Two experiences crystallised this conviction. The first was a workshop where students designed and made shoes for their own feet &mdash; an exercise that demanded observation, material sensitivity, and iterative making. The second was a brick workshop, where students engaged directly with one of architecture's most fundamental materials, understanding it not through drawings alone but through touch, assembly, and structural logic. These workshops were not supplementary activities; they were the moments that most clearly revealed how students learn when doing, not just when listening. Beyond the studio, I have handled examination responsibilities and contributed to curriculum development and syllabus structuring, even when it extended beyond my formal role. These experiences have strengthened my understanding of academic systems and reaffirmed my commitment to architectural education.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">What draws me to NICMAR is its "learning by doing" approach. The integration of theoretical knowledge with studio practice, field explorations, workshops, industry collaborations, digital simulations, and research-based projects creates an ecosystem where learning is active and experiential. This approach resonates with my own teaching methodology, and with the experiences that shaped it.</p>
<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">At this stage in my career, I am keen to grow within an academic ecosystem that values research, multidisciplinary collaboration, and collective inquiry. I aspire to engage more deeply in research initiatives, contribute to publications, and work on diverse teams to address contemporary challenges in architecture and planning. NICMAR's research orientation and collaborative environment provide the platform I am seeking.</p>
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<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Joining NICMAR is a step toward contributing to an institution where design, industry engagement, and research coexist meaningfully. I look forward to being part of an academic community that actively connects ideas with implementation and education with impact.</p>