Building U.S.-India Ties through Educational Partnerships

U.S. Consul General Jennifer McIntyre at IIM, Trichy on December 13, 2012.

“The United States and India currently have hundreds of educational collaborations, through fellowships, student and faculty exchanges, and institutional partnerships,” said Consul General Jennifer McIntyre at IIM, Trichy on December 13, 2012. 

When Secretary of State Hillary Clinton traveled to Chennai in July 2011, she became the highest-ranking U.S. official to ever visit the city and she delivered a speech that called for the creation of a “New Silk Road.”  While the New Silk Road concept seeks to spur economic interaction within the region, the United States is equally committed to expanding bilateral economic ties with India, the Consul General said. 

“Another important way we are building these ties – and have done so for decades – is through our educational partnership which has greatly expanded in recent years with the introduction of our Higher Education working group under the Strategic dialogue.  One of the great challenges facing our two countries today is how to educate – and educate well – our growing youth populations,” Ms. McIntyre remarked.  

As our world gets smaller, your education and the knowledge you gain of the international arena will help you become key contributors as our next generation of professionals and leaders in the globalized 21st century, said Consul General Jennifer McIntyre. 

“One of our flagship programs between our governments promoting these individual exchanges is the Fulbright – Nehru Awards,” explained Ms. McIntyre, “which are higher education fellowships for the most outstanding students, academics and professionals in India and the U.S. to study, research and engage in work experiences that benefit both of our countries.  India has the largest Fulbright scholar exchange program worldwide, with more than 17,000 fellowships and other grants awarded to Indians and Americans since it began.”