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International Education

Johns Hopkins University Explores Setting Up Campus in India: Discussions with Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan

In a significant step towards the internationalisation of education in India, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan engaged in discussions with officials from Johns Hopkins University (JHU), Maryland, USA, regarding the establishment of the university’s campus in India. The meeting, held on Sunday, also explored academic and research collaborations, including dual and joint degree programs and partnerships in emerging fields like artificial intelligence, data science, and futuristic technologies. A senior official from the Ministry of Education expressed optimism, stating, “Given the keen interest shown by the high-level delegation, the government is hopeful of a positive outcome very soon.” The delegation, led by JHU President Ronald J. Daniels, included 12 representatives—the largest from JHU to visit India. Members also included officials from the Gupta Klinsky India Institute (GKII), which focuses on fostering research, education, and policy collaborations between JHU and Indian partners. During the meeting, Minister Pradhan highlighted the transformative potential of India’s National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) in fostering global partnerships and expanding academic opportunities. JHU, consistently ranked among the top global universities for its excellence in research, medicine, and education, currently operates 10 campuses, including two international hubs in Bologna, Italy, and Nanjing, China. The proposed campus in India would represent another milestone in its mission to advance education and research on a global scale. As part of their India visit, the delegation will tour various Indian university campuses and meet with key stakeholders, including government officials and academic leaders. These engagements aim to strengthen JHU’s presence in India and contribute to India’s growing role in global higher education. Source: Times of India Photo Credit: Times of India

University of Wollongong Launches Inaugural Scholarships and Advanced Courses at New India Campus in GIFT City

Australia’s University of Wollongong (UOW) has become the second foreign university to establish a campus in India’s GIFT City, Gujarat, and has officially commenced classes, offering unique scholarships for its inaugural batch. All full-time students enrolled in the first batch are eligible for “InAugural Scholarships,” which include a 50% tuition fee waiver for Masters and Masters Extension students and a 25% waiver for Graduate Certificate students in their first trimester. According to Nimay Kalyani, director of UOW India, the scholarships are designed to support the initial group of students as they begin their academic journey at the institution. Kalyani added that the university will continue to introduce additional scholarship programs, with the “Women Leaders in FinTech” scholarship set to launch in November 2024. This initiative provides three top Indian students with a 50% tuition fee reduction across the program duration, with the final trimester offering a 100% waiver. UOW India’s academic focus is on high-demand fields such as IT, STEM, business, and FinTech, with plans to broaden its course offerings in response to India’s educational needs. Faculty includes both local experts and international instructors from UOW’s campuses in Australia and Dubai. The university also announced a corporate collaboration with IBM, which offers students advanced training in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, blockchain, and more through IBM’s Innovation Centre for Education (ICE). This partnership ensures UOW India’s students receive industry-relevant skills and exposure to global job markets, with IBM ICE providing access to in-demand technical resources and courses tailored for industry readiness. “This collaboration aims to equip our students with essential skills, internships, and career pathways across sectors ranging from multinational corporations to entrepreneurial ventures,” Kalyani shared, emphasizing UOW India’s commitment to fostering a skilled workforce ready for global opportunities. Source: Financial Express

Parul University Hosts International Staff Teaching & Training Week 2024, Focusing on Global Education Collaboration

Parul University in Vadodara recently hosted the International Staff Teaching & Training Week 2024, an event designed to strengthen cooperation with foreign institutions and promote global education. The week-long program, themed “Developing Competencies for Strengthening Internationalization,” brought together educators, administrators, and representatives from institutions worldwide to foster discussions on globalization, student exchange, and multicultural education. The event featured a mix of workshops, presentations, and cultural activities aimed at enhancing cross-cultural competencies and encouraging international research partnerships. Notable keynote speakers included global education leaders such as Dr. Hubertus Johannes Forschelen from the University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern, Germany, and Ms. Mavlyuda Narmuratovna Mirzayeva from Navoi State University of Mining and Technologies, Uzbekistan. Throughout the event, participants engaged in professional development sessions, exploring strategies to improve global education standards and student mobility. Discussions centered around enhancing internationalization in education, including best practices for facilitating student exchange programs and fostering global research collaborations. Dr. Preeti Nair, Director of the Center for International Relations and Research at Parul University, highlighted the success of the program, emphasizing its importance in advancing international partnerships and creating a more globally connected academic community. The event not only offered a platform for knowledge sharing and networking but also reinforced Parul University’s commitment to promoting internationalization and global education. The university aims to continue fostering these connections and exploring new opportunities for academic exchange and collaboration on a global scale. Source: Economic Times

Record 35% Surge in Indian Students Boosts US International Enrollment to 40-Year High

The number of Indian students attending US colleges has seen a significant 35% increase, contributing to the highest single-year growth in international student enrollment in over 40 years. A joint study by the State Department and the Institute of International Education revealed that the overall international student population in the US surged by 12% during the 2022-23 academic year, with more than 1 million students from abroad – the highest since 2019-20. CEO of the Institute of International Education, Allan E Goodman, emphasized that the US remains the preferred destination for international students worldwide. The report indicates a robust educational relationship between the US and India, with nearly 269,000 Indian students enrolled, surpassing previous records and ranking second only to China. Most of these students pursued graduate programs, particularly in science, technology, and business fields. While China still tops the list with 290,000 students, its numbers have decreased for the third consecutive year, reflecting a shift in demand. The study attributes this decline to strained international relations, competition from UK and Canadian universities, and extended travel restrictions in Asia during the pandemic. US universities have strategically focused on recruiting in India, given the predicted population growth, with students from India now outnumbering those from China in 24 states. Graduate programs in the US remained the primary attraction for international students for the second consecutive year, experiencing a 21% growth, while undergraduate numbers saw a modest 1% increase. The reversal of the previous decade’s trend, where undergraduate enrollments dominated, is credited to the popularity of math and computer science programs, witnessing a 20% surge. Engineering and business programs followed suit, collectively constituting over half of all international students in the US. This surge nearly restores international student numbers to pre-pandemic levels, reaching close to the 2018 peak of 1.1 million students. Despite comprising only 5.6% of all college students, international students play a significant role in US higher education, contributing to global exchange and providing substantial revenue through higher tuition rates. Following China and India, other nations sending the most students to the US include South Korea, Canada, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Nigeria. The study also highlights a record number of students from countries like Bangladesh, Colombia, Ghana, Italy, Nepal, Pakistan, and Spain in the previous school year. While international student numbers are on the rise, many US colleges continue to grapple with declining domestic enrollment. Overall college enrollment remains sluggish, and a separate study by the National Student Clearinghouse indicates a 3.6% decrease in freshman enrollment for fall 2023.