Nehru-Fulbright Education Exchange Program which has a history of over 60 years has nourished the cooperation in education between the US and India. The education exchange program has changed the relation between the two countries which was turbulent some years back.

As a part of continuing relation, a bill has been introduced in the US parliament which aims to improve the relations further by increasing the opportunities for Indian students to study in US universities. The bill also plans to open up US institutions in India through tie-ups with Indian institutions.

Success depends on those outside the government

In the opening ceremony of the US-India Higher Education Summit at Goergetown University in Washington DC, United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that the success of  cooperation in the Higher Education depends on those outside the government which includes the business, academia and the researchers.

Addressing a large audience which included dignitaries form universities and non governmental organizations, Clinton has expressed that this cooperation will be a driving force behind bilateral dialogue with the government of India. She said that both governments are committed to this collaboration and its success lays with the support form those outside the government.

Last year alone 100,000 Indian students have enrolled to different universities in the US. According to Clinton there are even greater opportunities to explore and that included American students securing admission in Indian educational institutions. The initiative taken up by Obama and Singh is aimed at providing an amount of $10 million to increase partnership between universities and development of junior faculty.

The Fulbright-Nehru program has grown by three times over the few years. Through this program the US conducts faculty exchange program with India which is more than with any other country. Now efforts are under way to aid American students to do their internships and projects in India.

A real problem that Indian students face is that of the sham universities. About 95 percent of the students in the sham universities that were shut down were from India. These students are now facing deportation. Clinton has said that they have expanded their advising services to provide information to Indian students on real opportunities in the United States. Such services will prevent Indian students from being fooled by advertisements in the internet.

Clinton pointed out an example where a group of students from the Stanford University comprising of Indians and Americans decided to work together to design and develop a better baby incubator. The students developed a portable baby incubator that is of low cost. The advantage of this incubator is that is of low cost and so it can be used in backward and rural areas without electricity. Now the group has moved to Bangalore in India where they have started to manufacture the incubator and save lives of thousands of babies. This idea was a result of simple conversation between students from the US and India. So Clinton believes that such a cooperation initiated by Obama and Singh would bring in more opportunities for students from both countries to sit together and brainstorm ideas that will be productive and useful for the society at large.

Clinton observes this collaboration as beginning of a constructive relationship that will be interconnected in every level in the near future. As a part of improving the educational cooperation the US government is encouraging the state and local officials to make direct connections with Indian counterparts.

Partnership for a better tomorrow

Minister of Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal said that cooperation in education is one of the important pillars of the strategic cooperation between India and the United States. Sibal pointed out that education is the only means to empower the people across the globe. He also said that the benchmarks that the US universities have set inspires the youth in India which will benefit the public as a whole. He also stressed on the point that this partnership is important for a better tomorrow. According to him the experience of community colleges can be used to produce students will necessary skills as required by the industries world wide. This experience can be used to develop the vocational education system in India.

Moreover he stressed on the statement by Clinton that we need to lay down the foundation together for a change that will foster the partnership in the days to come. The technological advancements have reduced distances through the internet and that this collaboration would lead to creation and nurturing of knowledge, he added. He said that the world will be defined by collaborative knowledge networks and not by flow of money and material.

According to the proposal made by the ministry of Human Resource and Development, the key collaboration will cover areas such as energy studies, environmental studies, climate change, education and education reform and community development.

Based on the partnership India wants to start fourteen universities, provide training to teachers and promote research.

From the experts

A university president who doesn’t want to reveal his identity said that we need solutions rather than statements. He also stressed on the importance of reducing regulations, effect of bureaucracy and a level playing field. In addition to this we need to get into the specifics of the matter to understand what we are getting into. The main concern is the potential threat of government bodies coming up and questioning the validity of course and programs after they are set up.

The universities in the United States realize that there is huge potential in India. But what they are worried about is the parameters under which they can implement their ideas.

An industry representative is in doubt whether this partnership will have the same fate as that of the nuclear deal. Even after getting the support in the parliament and the nuclear suppliers group the bill is long forgotten. The worry is that after making huge investments, what if thing wouldn’t turn up right.