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Home > About NC State > Chancellor > Speeches and Writings > U.S.-India University Leaders' RoundtableU.S.-India University Leaders' Roundtable
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Indian Institute of Technology
To our hosts, Director Prasad, Secretary Hughes, Assistant Secretary Farrell, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for extending this opportunity to discuss the importance of international education in preparing students and faculty to be competitive in the 21st century. As you recognize, colleges and universities in the United States welcome international students to engage in academic learning, to conduct innovative research, to prepare themselves for successful careers and to enhance our campus cultures.
International students and scholars in our institutions play an important role in building bilateral relationships that encourage the exchange of ideas in all disciplines. All of us hope we can increase collaboration and cooperation between U.S. and Indian institutions of higher education as Secretary Hughes has emphasized throughout his visit.
We firmly believe that American community colleges, colleges and universities can provide students rewarding educational opportunities and assist in preparing them and us for the knowledge-based, global economy that we live in. I would like to share just a few facts about my own institution and our commitment to international education.
Like the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, NC State has a strong emphasis in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, all within a culture of innovation. Our student population totals about 31,000, with 24,000 undergraduates and more than 7,000 graduate and professional students. Two thousand of our students are from outside the U.S. and, last fall, we received more than 4,500 applications from international students.
Students from India make up over a third of our international graduate students at NC State - and graduate degrees in electrical engineering, computer science and computer networking are the most popular among these 498 students. Over the past 10 years, we have awarded more than 1,000 graduate degrees to Indian students, and we have 40 professors who are originally from India. Since 2001, the number of Indian students applying to our graduate school has increased by about 20 percent.
Our strategy is to build strong, active, multifaceted relationships with individual international institutions through an emphasis on exchanges. Members of our faculty have recently returned from India, with aspirations to pursue academic and research collaborations with several Indian institutions, including The National Institute of Fashion Technology and the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage; The National Institute of Design; and The Veterinary College at the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals.
We must continue to build bridges across our differences in religions, history, culture and language to partner with each other and facilitate scholarly research that encourages the exchange of ideas among American and Indian scholars. Our students and your students are critical to this relationship building and are often the impetus behind increasing people-to-people interaction that promotes understanding of the rich history and traditions of the world.
Prior to my departure to India for this visit, I spoke to several Indian students at NC State. They told me about what drew them to study in the United States and to NC State. First, the availability of research opportunities was important to them in pursuing an advanced degree. Secondly, the ability to interact closely with faculty, and the partnerships among university, business, industry and government were particularly attractive to them. As an example, Red Hat, one of the world's leading open-source software developers, has its international headquarters located on Centennial Campus. Red Hat also has offices in Mumbai and Puna. SAS, a spin-off company from NC State has offices in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Puna.
In addition, employment opportunities in the Research Triangle Park of NC enhanced their desire to come study with us. Lastly, receiving financial support for their graduate studies also played an important role in selecting NC State. Forty-five percent receive a TA or RA support, including health insurance and tuition waivers.
At many of our campuses, Indian student organizations welcome our new Indian students and introduce them to what our institutions have to offer. A recent Chronicle of Higher Education article described how NC State's Indian Graduate Student Association, Maitri, welcomes new Indian students by helping them adjust to the NC State campus and community. Maitri also helps our campus community understand Indian cultures and traditions. This type of support system is also important for American students studying abroad.
Clearly, international education and collaboration is a priority for all of us and is critical in helping us be relevant and responsive to the needs of our global community. Let us meet - together - the challenge of preparing our students to be competitive in the 21st century by making international education the foundation through which they gain the knowledge and wisdom to become tomorrow's leaders.
Finally, earlier this week, we discussed enhancing international education with academic leaders in Mumbai. There were important parameters that impact international education identified, such as: cost of education (and financial support); TOEFL scores required at some institutions; semester term abroad programs; post-doctoral research funding; technological collaboration; and the role and potential of community colleges.
We're hoping for similar discussions this morning.