JOIN USAs universities across the US prepare their students to excel in the global market place, Ohio State University is implementing a strategy that will integrate with the scenario, said E Gordon Gee, President of Ohio State University.
Addressing the fall governing body meeting of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) in Columbus, Ohio, he said as part of that strategy, OSU is pursuing opening Global Gateway offices in key parts of the world.
Gee, who oversees OSU's six campuses, 64,000 students, and nearly 40,000 faculty and staff, had been named in 2009 by Time magazine as one of the top 10 university Presidents in the United States.
Gee said when fully operational, the Global Gateways will be multi-faceted centres that capitalise on strengths of the university's growing connections around the world through faculty teaching and research, study abroad, university partnerships, alumni, international students and Ohio businesses.
In February 2010, Ohio State opened a Gateway office in the downtown business district of Shanghai, China, and currently is examining additional opportunities in India, Brazil, Turkey, sub-Saharan Africa and Europe, he said.
Once the plans are in place, the India Gateway will be located in Mumbai.
The India Gateway will advance OSU's international mission and provide Ohio State with a base of operations for faculty research, teaching and international partnerships with Indian educational institutions, portal for study abroad opportunities, location for global student recruitment and centre for executive and corporate training and a new way to partner with Ohio-based businesses operating globally.
It will also serve as a point of contact to strengthen connections among Ohio State students, faculty, alumni, and friends of the university in Ohio and India.
Global Gateways signify one of the several initiatives identified by the President's and Provost's Council on Strategic Internationalisation in which developing an international physical presence is among the priorities.
Ohio State's involvement in China, India and Brazil include more than 85 faculty connections; 17 study abroad programmes; and 66 Memoranda of Agreement/Student Exchange Agreements.
China, India and Brazil also are major recipients of Ohio exports.
Leading Ohio State's globalisation efforts is William Brustein, who is responsible for integrating international and multicultural experiences to the academic units within the university and expanding and enhancing its global reach.