HRD ministry to sponsor faculty, scholars tell US

The exchange would take place under the educator enrichment and exchange programme.
HRD Minister Kapil Sibal discussed about the programme with US officials during the recently held high level Indo-US education summit. It is understood that the American delegation was keen to enhance the exchange programme and improve the quality of human resources in Indian higher education sector.

“Under the exchange programme, the Ministry wants to sponsor initially up to 1,500 faculty and junior scholars to leading universities and research institutes in the US. This will promote the exchange of ideas, research, mutual enrichment and linkages between research and academic institutions of the two countries, an HRD ministry official said.

The Ministry is working out the ways of sponsoring the Indian faculties for the programme. The exchange programme would be discussed further during the visit of US Under Secretary Ann Stock, who is visiting India in December with a high level academic delegation.

During the summit, the two countries agreed to expand dialogue on higher education as an annual bilateral event to map out future strategies  for partnership in the field.

Amongst several aspects of education discussed, the two countries are mulling over twinning programmes and issuing joint certificates to students.

“We are working to prepare a roadmap. When US Under Secretary visits India in December, twinning arrangements between India and US like joint degree programmes will also be discussed,” the official added.