WASHINGTON: Union Human Resources and Development Minister M M Pallam Raju’s visit has laid the groundwork for refining and enhancing educational partnership between the United States and India, an US official has said.
“His visit laid the groundwork for refining and enhancing our educational partnership and conversations begun during the Minister’s trip will feed directly into June’s Dialogue,” said Tara D Sonenshine, Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs.
Raju had recently visited Washington to hold talks with top American officials and those from the US universities and had also visited a community college.
Describing his Washington trip as “very fruitful and engaging,” Raju said he is looking towards much greater cooperation and collaboration with the United States on education.
“As I prepare to return to India for the Dialogue, I look forward to continuing this important conversation with our vital partner,” Sonenshine said referring to her upcoming visit to India.
“Minister Raju’s visit has solidified our joint commitment to deliver high quality, cost-effective instruction for students to access knowledge.
It will be exciting to witness how this relationship evolves over the months – and years – to come,” she wrote in her diplomatic blog.
“At the forthcoming US-India Higher Education Dialogue later this month in New Delhi, the United States and India will continue to strengthen our educational ties, knowing the important stakes at hand,” she said in the blog.
She added that the potential to collectively educate and prepare millions of youth for success, while also creating jobs and growing our economies,” Sonenshine wrote.
Raju’s visit, she said, set the stage for the upcoming event and to underscore India’s determination to address a significant educational and vocational demand – educating 500 million students by 2022.
“Our countries are starting from a good place – a strong commitment to educating young people in both cultures.
On my most recent trip to India last February, I witnessed many Indian parents making huge sacrifices so that their children might benefit from greater opportunities,” she wrote.
“This joint prioritization of youth was certainly reflected in Minister Pallam Raju’s visit” Soneshine wrote.
From his very first engagement here – a round table discussion with industry and education experts – he made clear his commitment to furthering the educational partnership, a cornerstone of our bilateral relationship,” she said.
“Development of community colleges in India is one of his foremost objectives.
On this trip, he deepened his appreciation of the US community college model with a visit to Montgomery Community College’s Takoma Park campus,” she said.
“One of the high points of the visit for the Indian delegation was viewing the nursing simulation lab, where robotic “patients” exhibit symptoms that students must diagnose and treat. -PTI