US Higher Education Delegation Ventures to India to Forge Collaborative Partnerships

Officials from seventeen colleges and universities in the United States are set to embark on a seven-day journey to India as part of the Institute of International Education (IIE) Leadership Delegation. The aim is to foster and strengthen bilateral partnerships with higher education institutions in the country.

Scheduled from February 25, 2024, to March 2, 2024, the visit is part of the Center for International Partnership’s 2023–24 IIE Country Spotlight Series. The itinerary commences and concludes in New Delhi, with the delegation dividing its time between Mumbai and Hyderabad mid-week.

The primary focus of discussions will center on the convergence of higher education, business, and government, providing participants with insights into India’s rapidly evolving higher education landscape and avenues for collaboration. Moreover, the delegation will serve as a platform for leaders from the United States and India to engage face-to-face, foster meaningful relationships, and solidify their collaborative strategies.

Comprising 31 provosts, vice provosts, deans, and other senior officials from esteemed institutions like the University of California, Berkeley, University of Houston, Florida International University, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Michigan State University, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Mississippi State University, and University of Missouri, the delegation represents a diverse array of expertise and perspectives.

The visit will feature addresses and panel discussions involving senior officials from the US Embassy and Consulates in India, the Government of India, and Indian higher education institutions. Key topics on the agenda include the establishment of international branch campuses in India and the impact of educational technology on higher education in the country.

During their stay, delegates will have the opportunity to visit US consulates as well as prominent Indian educational institutions such as the Indian School of Business, IIT Hyderabad, Mahindra University, Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), and Somaiya Vidyavihar University.

Representing the New York-based non-profit organization, IIE, will be its co-presidents, Jason Czyz and A. Sarah Ilchman, alongside IIE India’s director, Vivek Mansukhani, senior vice president Jonah Kokodyniak, and the head of the IIE Center for International Partnerships, Sylvia Jons.

In a statement, the IIE underscored the demographic significance of India, with over 40 percent of its 1.4 billion population under the age of 25, leading to a demand for education that surpasses domestic supply. The organization also highlighted data from Open Doors, revealing a record-high enrollment of Indian students and scholars in US campuses.

“More than 265,000 Indian students pursued higher education in the US during the 2022–23 academic year, marking an unprecedented surge from the world’s fifth-largest economy and the most populous country. Additionally, with over 16,000 Indian scholars in the US during 2022–23, India ranks second only to China in this regard,” the statement emphasized.