Two delegations from Rutgers University visited India in the past six months
Rutgers University is proud to enroll thousands of exceptional students and attract brilliant faculty and scholars from India each year. In the past year, and for the first time ever, India was the top sending country of international students to Rutgers. Over the past six months, two delegations from Rutgers University visited India and met with high-ranking government officials, representatives from the EdTech industry, and colleagues from top high schools and renowned institutions of higher education. During the second visit, which included Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Prabhas Moghe, Rutgers hosted an admitted student event, a roundtable discussion with key professionals, and an alumni and friends gathering in Mumbai.
Rutgers University has deep and longstanding connections with Indian institutions and scholars in projects and research collaborations across various disciplines. Faculty from all across the University have traveled to India over the years to deepen these strong relationships. For the two recent visits, the goals included enhancing the visibility of Rutgers University in India, cultivating relationships across sectors, cementing academic partnerships, connecting with alumni and parents, and strengthening connections with high schools.
October Visit: New Delhi, Indore, Goa, Mumbai
The first trip took place from October 8th through the 18th and the Rutgers delegation included Vice President for Global Affairs Rick Garfunkel, Executive Director of International Student Services Mohini Mukherjee, Executive Director of Study Abroad Dan Waite, Associate Director of International Admissions Sarah Blackburn, and Associate Director of Partnerships Kim Pernice.
The delegation gathered first in New Delhi, where they met with Dr. Anil Sahasrabudhe, Chair of National Educational Technology Forum at the AICTE office to learn about the new national education policy (NEP) and the opportunities it presents for student mobility, research and other collaborations between Indian and US institutions. In addition, they met with Vivek Mansukhani, Head of Institute of International Education (IIE) India who shared further insights on the higher education landscape in India and how Rutgers can build a presence in the country. The group also toured O.P. Jindal Global University and Ashoka University, both located near New Delhi, and met with faculty and administrators there to discuss possible partnerships and collaboration opportunities. There was interest from O.P. Jindal in various short-term and semester exchanges with undergraduate and graduate students in the areas of law and psychology, as well as dual degree programs and research collaborations. Ashoka expressed interest in semester-long student exchanges in math, environmental science, and in providing research opportunities for undergrads.
Next the group traveled to Indore, where they visited the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Indore and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Indore. The meeting with IIM-Indore was particularly productive as the Institute expressed interest in collaborating with many of Rutgers’ programs and schools, for collaborative research, training programs and more. Possible areas of collaboration included the Healthcare Analytics and Intelligence program, the Institute for Ethical Leadership, and the Rutgers Center of Excellence at the Rutgers Business School; also discussed were potential collaborations with the Bloustein School, the School of Management and Labor Relations, and the Center for Organizational Leadership. The location of two top engineering and management schools in the same city, with expansive campuses, in close proximity to several cultural and historical sites, presents great potential for study abroad and experiential programs in the region.
The group then traveled to Goa to visit an eco-friendly campsite in Karwar, Karnataka, to evaluate it as a possible study abroad program location for Rutgers students focused on environmental awareness, outdoor survival skills, research and leadership development. Finally, in Mumbai, the Rutgers delegation met with USIEF Mumbai, the EducationUSA advising office and EdTech companies UNext and UpGrad. EdTech in India is a fast-growing industry with a robust reach to a wide group of learners. Several ideas were discussed in these meetings, including programs in executive education, short-term certificate programs, master’s/executive master’s programs, and other forms of blended or online learning.
January Visit: New Delhi and Mumbai
The second visit took place from January 4th through the 8th and the Rutgers delegation included Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Prabhas Moghe, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Admissions Marco Dinovelli, Senior Associate Vice President for Development Drew Kaiden, and Rick Garfunkel and Mohini Mukherjee.
The visit commenced in New Delhi, where the delegation met with key members of the government, including Neeta Prasad, and Shalia Shah, Deputy Secretary in the Department of Higher Education at the Ministry of Education, Jagadesh Kumar, Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC), and Shri. Bharat Lal, the Director General of the National Centre for Good Governance. Later that day, they had the opportunity to meet with Anthony Miranda, the Countrywide Cultural and Educational Affairs Counselor at the American Center. In the evening, there was a meet and greet with students, parents, alumni and other Rutgers friends and colleagues.
The group then traveled to Mumbai where they met with Rajesh Gawande, Regional Passport Officer and Head of Branch Secretariat before preparing for three back-to-back events on the final day of the visit. The first was for admitted students and their families, with remarks from Prabhas Moghe, Marco Dinovelli, and Mohini Mukherjee. The delegation shared highlights about the University and our services and addressed any questions and concerns as students finalize their enrollment decision. The next was a roundtable discussion on leveraging India-US collaborations in higher education, with university leaders, high school principals and counselors, and representatives from the US Consulate and Indian EdTech industry that led to insightful conversations and generated many ideas. The final event was a reception and dinner for Rutgers alumni and friends that included more than 50 attendees.
Next Steps and Further Engagement
Mohini Mukherjee, who leads Rutgers University’s India engagement, organized both trips and reflected: “I am grateful that we had the opportunity to travel to India twice with key leaders of the University. Their commitment to traveling abroad and meeting in-person with important representatives of India’s academic, corporate and government communities, as well as with our alumni and current and future students and parents sends an important message.” She added, “There is still much to do in terms of following up and solidifying these relationships, but it is important work, and we are grateful to be engaging in a thoughtful and intentional way with India.” Rick Garfunkel said, “India is a key region for Rutgers, and it is crucial that we continue to deepen our engagement across the country. These two trips signal our commitment to sustaining an enduring relationship with India. I am sure such efforts will help expand student recruitment, facilitate faculty and student exchanges, research partnerships, and lead to the launch of other innovative and collaborative programs.”
Photos: Here are photos from visits with our partners, the admitted student event, the roundtable discussion, and the alumni reception.
Video: Watch a video with highlights from the January trip to India.