34 foreign students keen to pursue PG / PhD in Mangalore varsity

They applied through ICCR after MU set up International Student Centre recently

A total of 34 foreign students have shown interest to pursue post graduation / research (PhD) in Mangalore University after the university set up International Student Centre recently, said Mangalore University Vice Chancellor Prof K Byrappa, at the academic council meeting here on Saturday. 

Out of the 34 applications received, 28 were for pursuing PhD degree and the remaining for post-graduate courses in various faculty of the university. The number of students from various countries are as follows—Egypt (5), Ethiopia (5), Sri Lanka-5, Bangladesh (1), Madagascar (1), South Sudan (1), Rwanda (6), Ghana (2), Eritrea (1) and Namibia (1). The students from  Egypt (2), Bangladesh (2) and Tanzania (2) have applied for PG courses. 

The students had applied through Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), which offers fellowships to foreign students to study in Indian universities. After the university set up its centre, a team of two professors—  Prof Ravishankar Rao and Prof A M Khan visited New Delhi to project the strength of the Mangalore University to attract foreign students. The Academic Council approved the decision to equal the undergraduate or post-graduate degrees obtained by the foreign students to the degrees offered by the Mangalore University to admit them to the university.   

Prof Chinnappa Gowda said that along with the PhD degree, it is essential to write the specialisation in the degree certificate, to which the VC responded positively. 

The VC said that the university has already written to the ministry and also to the students who have shown keen interest in pursuing their studies in Mangalore University. The admission process will commence on any coming days. Those students who join the PG courses will have special classes on Sundays, to make up the classes of the semester and to ensure that they do not suffer from shortage of attendance. 

A three-day orientation programme for foreign students will also be imparted to know the faculty, department, campus, district, Karnataka and the culture and language of the land. Along with the foreign students, an orientation for the faculty and staff will be held to ensure that no cultural clash occur in the campus with the arrival of the foreign students. 

The VC said that the university has proposed an international hostel to cater to the needs of foreign students. For the time being, Netravati guest house in the campus will provide accommodation to the students. All the basic infrastructure facilities will be provided to the foreign students in the university. Model lab facilities will also be made available in the university.  

For the time being, the bunglow of Registrar (Evaluation) and Finance Officer will be converted into guest house, the VC added. 

Mangalore University Registrar Prof P S Yadapaditaya, Registrar (evaluation) Prof B Narayana and Finance Officer Prof Pakkeerappa were present.