Image Courtesy : in.usembassy.gov

On Friday, a top official stated that close on the heels of the US issuing a record — 82,000 visas — to Indian students for this summer, a US Department of Commerce Education Trade Mission arrives in India next week in order to enhance academic relations between India and US.

The US Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) will explore partnerships and collaboration with the Indian education sector during the delegation visits to Bengaluru, New Delhi, and Mumbai between September 12-16. The delegation will include representatives of 21 US HEIs (Higher Education Institutes) from 15 US states, which will go around the three major Indian cities against the backdrop of India’s New Education Policy (NEP 2020).

The development is considered influential with the US mission in New Delhi and consulates in Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Chennai issuing visas to over 82,000 Indian students this summer. Officials informed that Indian students account for nearly 20% of all foreign scholars seeking studies at various levels in the US.

Mike Hankey, US Consul-General in Mumbai, said that US schools are very curious to learn more about the enormous opportunities in India. This programme will help them expand their understanding of the sector and how they can best partner and collaborate with Indian institutions. He added that the theme of the forthcoming trade mission would be to identify and promote routes for collaboration between the HEIs of the US and India.

India’s NEP-2020 has sketched an aggressive plan to update and expand this country’s higher education system, including delivering a fillip to research experiential learning and internationalization of the curricula.

Hankey also said that the US HEIs bring a wealth of experience in these areas and have developed the best practices. These practices can assist India to accomplish its goals. Three education technology and service providers will join the programme that would like to bring their world-class capabilities here. The programme participants will engage in specialized meetings with Indian Higher Educational Institutions, student recruiting agents, and other stakeholders to learn what India needs most.

As part of the programme, there will be in-person student fairs on September 12 (Mumbai) and September 15 (New Delhi). The delegation will also reach on state and central government leaders, business executives, education regulators, etc., and listen to their standpoints on the necessities of the Indian economy and potential solutions that US HEIs can contribute.

For two days in Mumbai, the delegation will hold a student fair or event and B2B meetings and go on Indian university campus tours and site trips for a day in Bengaluru on September 14. They will go for on-campus tours, and B2B meet, and for two days in New Delhi, it will be campus tours plus a meeting at the US Embassy.

News Source: Ommcom News