UNIVERSITY OF HYDERABAD, UH JOIN TO PROMOTE
CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING
New Partnership One of Three Affiliations with Indian Universities
HOUSTON, April 19, 2005 – To promote a better understanding
of Indian culture and civilization, the University of Hyderabad
and the University of Houston are joining forces to offer a new
“Study India Program.”
The universities have signed a memorandum of understanding to facilitate
an exchange of scholars and students and offer students full credit
courses in Indian studies, according to Parul Fernandes, director
of UH’s International Studies and Programs.
The program will work to develop research, establish a resource
center and help the Houston business community, said Krishna Vavilala,
who initiated the project. In the future, he hopes to help create
a chair for Indian Studies at UH with support from the 100,000 people
of the Indo-American community living in the greater Houston area.
“We look forward to the expanded academic and cultural opportunities
that this affiliation with the University of Hyderabad will bring,”
said Jerald W. Strickland, interim senior vice president of academic
affairs and provost at UH.
The University of Hyderabad, located in Andhra Pradesh, India,
was founded in 1974 and is funded by the federal government of the
Republic of India. India is home to nearly one-fifth of the world’s
population and has become an increasingly important player in today’s
global economy, Fernandes pointed out. It has liberalized its economy
and propelled itself into one of the top four economies in the world.
Not coincidentally, the Southeast Asian nation is the featured country
at this year’s Houston’s International Festival, which
begins April 23.
“Given India’s growing power, UH recognized the need
to create a mechanism for its undergraduate students to learn about
the country’s history, culture, religious studies and economics,”
Fernandes said.
UH also has affiliations with University of Mumbai (2003) and
the NIILM University and the Center for Management Studies in New
Delhi. Additionally, in the summer of 2004, Saleha Khumawala, associate
professor of accounting and taxation, and more than 20 Bauer College
of Business students met with India’s President A.P.J. Abdul
Kalam during a faculty-led program.
About the University of Houston
The University of Houston, Texas’ premier metropolitan research
and teaching institution, is home to more than 40 research centers
and institutes and sponsors more than 300 partnerships with corporate,
civic and governmental entities. UH, the most diverse research university
in the country, stands at the forefront of education, research and
service with more than 35,000 students.
For more information about UH visit the universitys Newsroom at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.
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