Mangalore, Mar 1: The Indian diaspora in the US is one of the most influential and vibrant communities, which has played a valuable role as a bridge between our cultures and has helped accelerate the transformation of US – India relations, said US Commercial Service Minister Counsellor for Commercial Affairs Judy Reinke.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of 'Experience America', an outreach programme by the US Consulate General in Chennai, at St Aloysius College here on Friday, she said that the best way to build strategic relationships between the two countries was a commitment towards building people-to-people relationships.
“The partnerships between our people and businesses stretch back for generations. Early linkages have blossomed into a robust two-way exchange of entrepreneurs, executives, professors, scientists and students that has benefitted both countries and come to serve as a model for others around the world. The US Consulate decided to organise Experience America 2013 in Mangalore as we believe making connections with Indian educational institutions, entrepreneurs, businesses and people is the right way to further connect our country. The EA programs will focus on higher education and partnerships with US universities for students and teachers through fellowships and grants, and the US Commercial Service tries to bring US universities closer to the country and the people through student and individual tours," she said.
Terming the three-day outreach programme as a celebration of India-US ties, she said that it was important to promote deeper and wider relationships and mutual understanding between the people of the two countries outside of capital cities, in places such as Mangalore and Manipal which have emerged as higher education and business hubs of South India.
Speaking on the occasion, Pro-Chancellor of Manipal University Dr H S Ballal said that education had no physical barriers and students in India should be exposed to international education especially in developed countries in the Western world, which would help them gain better insight and broad-mindedness. “It is important that educational institutions in India have relationships with counterparts in foreign countries as it is our responsibility to groom students well so that they become better citizens of India tomorrow,” he said, adding that Manipal University had tie-ups with ten US universities.
Public Affairs Officer of the Chennai Consulate David J Gainer briefed the students on the programmes of the United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF), the US Commercial Service and the activities of 'Experience America'. Cultural Affairs Officer Shanna Surendra was present.
Vice principal of the college Fr Francis Almeida also spoke on the occasion.
The inauguration was followed by an inter-collegiate speech competition for college students on the topic 'India's emerging regional role in South and Central Asia'. Around 14 students from seven colleges took part in the competition, which was followed by a seminar on 'Higher Education in the US and student visas' in the auditorium.
The campus had catalogue display counters of nine US universities such as Hawaii Pacific University, West Virginia University, Central Michigan University and others, to entice students wishing to study abroad.
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