CONCERN 2013 sparks 112 MoUs to enhance the internationalization of Indian education

The Consortium for Competence in Education and Research for National Development (CONCERN) 2013 brought together over 100 educational institutions and consultants from across the world in Gurgaon, Haryana this past weekend.  The three-day International Summit on School and Higher Education focused on “Internationalization of Indian Education – Role of ICT & Beyond” as well as “Come to India Program – Taking Indian Education to the World.” During the event, 112 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) in areas related to research, dual degree provision, and exchange programmes for both students and faculty were signed. To read more about the event, click here.

March 2013

Making Education Accessible, Relevant, and Internationalized – India’s Goals for Education Reform

What makes a world class university? Many of the same attributes that make a quality community college. As India strives to raise its educational standards and performance, improving accessibility, relevance, and internationalization will be the key criteria for raising the bar across the educational spectrum.

Indian universities continue to fall short in global and regional ranking lists, prompting education experts as well as India’s politicians to increasingly cite the need for universities to produce graduates in subjects that are directly relevant to industry needs.  However, a robust educational system will also recognize that everyone need not obtain a PhD.  Universities and community colleges can both create two-year associate degree or certificate programs that will provide students with the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills training in a targeted and industry-relevant area.  Universities can also increase accessibility by making courses or lectures available online, while community colleges increase accessibility by providing diverse training options and accommodating a broader and typically non-traditional student body.

Finally, international partnerships, collaborations and exchanges will help infuse the Indian educational system with a global outlook, and aid educators in critically examining curricula, research programs and governance structures. Not only will the Indian educational system benefit from being exposed to and learning from international best practices, but the visibility gained through international partnerships may just finally gain Indian universities the global recognition that has eluded them thus far.

February 2013

The Global Social Change Leadership Institute Now Accepting Applications

The Research Center for Leadership in Action at New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service is offering a two-week intensive summer program on social change leadership.  The Global Social Change Leadership Institute will bring together university and graduate students and recent graduates together in New York City from July 7-19, 2013, to develop an understanding of the nature and tasks of social change leadership, participate in interactive workshops, and connect with a network of advocates committed to social justice.  The deadline for Early Admission is 12pm (noon) ETS on February 15, 2013, and the deadline for Regular Admission is 12pm (noon) ETS on March 8, 2013.

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December 2012

Cargill Launches the Global Scholars Program

Cargill, in partnership with the Institute of International Education (IIE) has recently launched the Cargill Global Scholars program in five countries, including India.  The program will provide financial assistance, leadership development and enrichment opportunities to nearly 200 undergraduate students with high levels of academic performance and leadership potential over the next three years.  Selected students will also be paired with a Cargill employee, including company executives, for a mentorship spanning the next several years. Ten scholarships will be awarded in India for the 2012-2013 academic year, targeting students enrolled in five of the country’s leading science and technology institutions: the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi; IIT, Mumbai; the National Institute of Technology, Trichy; Delhi Technological University, and BIT Mesra.

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World Innovation Summit for Education Prize Recognizes Pratham

The 2012 World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) Prize for Education has been awarded to Dr. Madhav Chavan, co-founder and CEO of Pratham, the largest non-governmental provider of basic literacy and numeracy for underpriveledged children in India.  The WISE Prize for Education was established in 2010 to recognize the outstanding, world-class contribution to education by an individual or team.  Launched in the slums of Mumbai, today Pratham has expanded operations to 17 of India’s 28 states, and has programs in pre-school education, learning support for in-school and out-of-school children, computer literacy, vocational training, and special programs for vulnerable and working children.  Independent studies have shown that children who have participated in Pratham’s programs learn more effectively in primary school and perform more highly than other children in their age group.  

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November 2012

Institute of International Education Releases Open Doors Report 2012, Reveals Shift in India – U.S. Exchange

The Institute of International Education has released its annual Open Doors Report, which has provided a statistical snapshot of international educational exchange in the United States each year since 1949.  Supported by a grant from the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the report serves as a comprehensive resource for information on international students and scholars studying or teaching in the United States, as well as U.S. students studying abroad. 

This year’s report, which captures data from the 2011/12 academic year, reveals that the number of Indian students studying abroad in the United States has dropped for the second consecutive year.  A total of 100,270 Indian students (accounting for 13.1% of the U.S.’ international student population) studied in the United States in 2011/12, marking a 3.5% decrease over the previous academic year and the second year of decline since the number peaked at 104,897 in 2009.  By contrast, the number of students entering the U.S. from China has shot up by 23.1% over the past year, with 194,029 Chinese students accounting for 25.4% of the U.S. international student population in the 2011/12 academic year.  Meanwhile, the number of students from the U.S. studying in India has rapidly increased from just 2,690 in the 2008/09 academic year to 4,345 in 2010/11, though this number still represents only 1.6% of the U.S. students who studied abroad in 2010/11.  Data for U.S. students for the 2011/12 academic year is not yet available.   

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FICCI Higher Education Summit 2012 Espouses a ‘Quest for Excellence’ in Higher Education in India

The 8^th FICCI Higher Education Summit 2012, organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) in partnership with the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) and the Planning Commission, is taking place November 5 and 6 in New Delhi.  The Summit brings together key policy makers, thought leaders from domestic and foreign educational institutes, and corporate representatives to engage in knowledge sharing, examine global best practices in higher education sector improvements, and deliberate policy imperatives.  The program includes panel discussions, master classes and exhibitions on the emergence of education hubs, academic reorganization, the industry-academia interface, cross border partnerships, fostering social responsibility, and collaborative research in higher education, among others.

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