17 US Universities Delegation to visit 26 Educational Institutions in India

A high-powered delegation of 31 provosts, vice provosts, deans, and other executives from 17 major American universities will visit India next week to strengthen India-US collaboration and student and scholar mobility.

Delegations from 17 US institutions will visit 26 Indian institutes in Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad next week to increase student and scholar mobility between the two countries. This visit is significant in light of the recent wave of attacks on Indian students and people of Indian heritage around the country.

DELEGATIONS COMING FROM 17 US UNIVERSITIES

The delegation comprises representatives from the following universities:

• California State University, Long Beach
• University of California, Berkeley
• DePaul University
• University of California, Davis
• East Tennessee State University
• University of Houston
• Florida International University
• University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
• Michigan State University
• University of Massachusetts, Amherst
• Mississippi State University
• University of Missouri
• Montclair State University
• University of Rochester
• Oklahoma State University
• University of Tulsa
• Rutgers University

The delegation's visit, which runs from February 25 to March 2, builds on recent years of US and Indian government attempts to collaborate on mutually beneficial policies. Last year, the Presidents and Prime Ministers of both countries paid state visits to each other, reaffirming the US-India Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership.

More than 40% of India's 1.4 billion people are under the age of 25, and education demand surpasses domestic supply. The delegation intends to investigate opportunities to meet this demand through collaborations and partnerships that will facilitate the mobility of students and scholars both ways.

“We will have the opportunity to meet with 26 Indian institutions to talk about collaboration, mobility of students and scholars between our two countries and securing and fostering enduring partnerships between institutions,” A. Sarah Ilchman, co-president of the Institute of International Education (IIE), said in an interview before leaving for India.

“Indian students and scholars in the US are now at record numbers, and it’s very exciting to watch close to 270,000 Indian students and about 17,000 Indian scholars in the US right now. So, it’s an exciting time to be engaging with India and Indian institutions to try to further increase this engagement and collaboration,” she said.

Ilchman recognised the presence of unscrupulous people in the industry and stated that steps were being taken to crack down on such individuals. She noted that US schools are attempting to overcome difficulties and provide a great experience for international students.

US schools and universities prioritise the health and safety of all students, both native and international. According to Ilchman, their goal is to establish safe and inclusive communities while also providing mental health resources to guarantee that all kids receive the help they require.

Efforts are also being made to improve the visa application process for overseas students, including improved openness.

Both countries are now working together and in dialogue to improve academic mobility, encourage cultural exchange, and deepen linkages in higher education.