The United States Consulate General in Kolkata in collaboration with other organizations on Saturday hosted the ‘US Universities Alumni: India Connect Program’ in Ranchi to provide guidance on higher education opportunities in US to prospective Indian students.
Acting public affairs officer of US Consulate Jay Treloar inaugurated the fair at Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi.
During the daylong education programme the participants emphasised on studying at one of the 4,500 accredited US colleges and universities adding they offer a world class education, robust alumni communities, rewarding cross-cultural experiences and a life-long engagement with the US.
Jay Treloar said, “There is no sector that better illustrates the mutual benefit of our relationship than education, a priority sector in both the US and India. Education has become one of the main pillars in our bilateral strategic partnership. We already have a very strong history of cooperation in higher education.”
Treloar also highlighted that according to the Open Doors Report of 2017 there are currently 186,000 Indian students studying in the U.S., the second highest number of foreign students.
“The total number of Indian students in the U.S has more than doubled over the last decade, from 81,000 in 2008 to 186,000 in 2017,” he noted.
He said, “USIEF and Education USA have played a major role in this achievement. Education USA provides accurate, current, and comprehensive information on U.S. higher education. Currently, there are seven Education USA centers spread across in India, which employ more than 30 education advisors. The Education USA office for East and Northeast India is located in the American Center in Kolkata.”
The USIEF (United States India Education Foundation)/ Education USA advisor, U.S. state department alumni and experts from the Indo-American Center also briefed the students about the benefits of studying in the U.S. on the occasion.
The students met alumni of US universities and asked them questions about the American education system, admissions process, while also learning about USIEF and Education USA resources.
The authorities informed that goal of the alumni fairs is to provide prospective students and their parents with firsthand information and advice from US State department exchange program alumni, university student counselors, Education USA representatives and the U.S. state department officials.
Earlier daylong fair on the topic took place in Jamshedpur on August 24. Similar programme would be held in Shillong on August 31 and Guwahati on September 1.
The NGO Indo-American Center, Washington DC and Education USA/USIEF (United States India Education Foundation) is collaborating with US consulate general in holding the programme.