The Embassy of India in Washington, D.C., in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the University Grants Commission, and the Department of Agricultural Research and Education of India, has launched the second round of the virtual mentoring series ‘MARG’ – Mentoring for Academic Excellence and Research Guidance. This initiative aims to connect Indian-origin faculty from U.S. universities with students and researchers from Indian universities, according to an official press release.
“This endeavor connects Indian universities across regions with top U.S. universities. Students and researchers will get exposure to latest developments, research and innovation, and skilling opportunities from Indian origin professors in the U.S.,” the release stated.
Faculty of Indian origin from prestigious U.S. institutions such as Stanford University, Purdue University, the University of Maryland, and George Mason University are participating in this series.
During the launch of the second round on March 7, Deputy Chief of Mission Ambassador Sripriya Ranganathan emphasized the growing ties between India and the U.S. in academic, research, innovation, and industrial sectors, particularly in critical and emerging technologies. She credited the leadership of both nations for driving this collaboration forward.
The MARG series plays a significant role in fostering the exchange of ideas and providing guidance on global educational and research opportunities, particularly in technology-related fields such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, biotechnology, cybersecurity, and agricultural technology.
Expressing gratitude to Indian-origin professors in the U.S. for their contributions to the initiative, Ranganathan encouraged them to maintain connections with Indian universities beyond this series. She also urged them to engage more frequently with faculty and researchers, and to take advantage of Indian government programs such as SPARC, VAIBHAV, and GYAN to visit India for collaborations in research, innovation, skilling, and educational exchanges.
Leaders from participating Indian universities, including directors and vice-chancellors, emphasized that these sessions would greatly benefit students and faculty involved in teaching, skilling, and research in critical and emerging technologies.