Rt Hon David Willetts MP and Tayyeb Shah during the panel discussionKing's celebrates end of 2012 UKIERI Study India Programme
The Rt Hon David Willetts MP, Minister of State for Universities and Science, hosted a celebration event in London last week to formally close this year’s UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI) Study India Programme. The programme, managed by King’s College London since it began in 2009, has played a vital role in strengthening mutual understanding between India and the UK by giving British students the opportunity to study and work in India. So far over 700 students from King’s and other UK universities have travelled on the unique scholarship programme to Delhi and Mumbai, with over 70 percent of this year’s group keen to go back to India to pursue career opportunities.
David Willetts welcomed a panel of delegates from UKIERI, King’s and other key stakeholders – Tata Consultancy Services, the Indian High Commission, the universities of Mumbai and Delhi – to the UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to celebrate the success of the programme. The panel was joined by students from this year’s programme who had the opportunity to engage in a discussion about future opportunities in the field of Indo-British education.
The Minister congratulated students and organizers on the highly successful project and underlined the importance of such innovative ways of improving student mobility to India. This year 102 internship opportunities were provided by Tata Consultancy Services and other Tata companies as part of the initiative, an engagement for which BIS paid particular acknowledgment.
In a series of inspiring talks, alumni students spoke about of their experiences of India and their life-changing impact.
Charlotte Buchanan introduced the audience to the India-Britain Youth Organisation, an initiative she co-founded as a consequence of Study India to strengthen mutual understanding between young people in India and Britain. King’s students Chloe Mclauchlan and Alexander Mayhew spoke on behalf of Project Chirag – a charity working to bring solar power to Indian villages. Elliot Bromley and Mofozzul Choudhury summarized in moving words the positive impact their visits to schools in India and the UK had upon the pupils and themselves. The programme now includes a school outreach project which has already reached over 2,500 school pupils, through workshops delivered by Study India students.
The event this week comes after a lively celebration at the British Council in Delhi earlier this term which marked the end of the students’ time in India.
Professor Rick Trainor, Principal of King’s College London, who attended the event as part of the King’s delegation visit to India said: ‘The Study India Programme is imbued with the notion of global citizenship – students get to understand India and more broadly the world in which India is becoming ever more important. I hope many of you will build on your experiences in India and relationships you have made here as part of your future careers.’
King’s staff and students from the Study India Programme celebrate in Delhi
Rob Lynes, Director of the British Council in India, addressed the students in Delhi saying: ‘All of you here, from both India and the UK, are the future workforce. Your experience, shared expertise, networks and resources will build stronger ties between India and the UK and help make both our countries more prosperous and secure.’
He added: ‘Around a quarter of a million students from India have studied in the UK over the last 10 years, yet there are probably less than 10,000 from the UK who have studied here in the same period. If we are really serious in the UK about understanding India in the 21st century, then the challenge is to get thousands of students, like you, from the UK to India, encourage more private sector support, and engage more universities both in India and the UK in this programme and others. If we can do that, then we will really make a difference.’
Tayyeb Shah, Director of Executive Education at King’s, said: ‘King’s is proud to be managing the Study India Programme for UKIERI and playing our part in introducing UK students to living and working in another culture. Education in the 21st century must not be limited by national boundaries – as the world is now globalised, our students benefit much more from learning with their peers in India. India is such a vibrant country and this outstanding programme is a life-changing experience for anyone who takes part.’
For further information, please contact Katherine Barnes, International PR Manager, King's College London on +44 (0) 207 848 3076 or email katherine.barnes@kcl.ac.uk
Find out more about the UKIERI Study India Programme.
No comments:
Post a Comment