The University of Houston System continues to enhance its global connections, recently sending administrators to meet with high-ranking, higher education officials in India.

The mid-January trip focused on such issues as reinforcing a memorandum of understanding, proposing bilateral relationships such as student and faculty exchanges and discussing study abroad opportunities.

“The trip was successful on all counts,” said Jerald Strickland, assistant vice chancellor for international studies and programs, who led the delegation. “We were able to learn about Indian universities and Indian higher education but also inform our Indian colleagues about the UHS and higher education in North America.”

The delegation visited officials at twenty-one institutions such as the Birla Institute of Technology and Science in Pilani, Jawaharlal Nehru, University in Delhi, University of Hyderabad, University of Pune and the University of Delhi. Additionally, administrators met with U.S. Consul General David Hopper in Chennai and U.S. Consul General Michael Owen in Mumbai.

The delegation included John Antel, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences dean;  John Bowen, Conrad N. College of Hotel and Restaurant Management dean; and Parul Fernandes, international studies and programs director. Other delegates were Ted Cummings, UH-Clear Lake School of Business dean; Judith Pennywell, UH-Clear Lake executive director of international initiatives; and Krishna Vavilala, founder and chair of the UH Foundation for India Studies.

Staff Reports