New Delhi, Mar 14 (IANS): Whistling Woods International and DY Patil educational group have joined hands for an institute of film, media and communication, in Pune.

The DY Patil-Whistling Woods International Film and Media School will be set up in the DY Patil Knowledge City in Pune.

The institute, which will commence operations from August 2013, will offer students from across the country integrated undergraduate courses in filmmaking, animation, media and communication, and a MBA in Media and Entertainment.

The three-year degree filmmaking course will feature a twinning model where the students will spend the final 18 months at Subhash Ghai's Whistling Woods International's Mumbai campus and thereby, get exposed to the cultural experience of studying in Mumbai's famous Film City.

"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," Ghai, founder and chairman, Whistling Woods International, said in a statement.

"Whistling Woods is here to stay and this is one step towards expansion with many more to come," he added.

Ajeenkya DY Patil, Chairman, DY Patil Group, is confident that the institute 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," added Patil.

Pavan R. Chawla, who has close to 25 years of experience in the media sector, has been appointed the Dean of the institute.