Higher Education for foreign students made accessible

Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) had been mandated with the responsibility to co-ordinate welfare measures for all foreign students including ICCR scholars in India. 

ICCR’s endeavour is to provide foreign students a comprehensive positives experience of India so that they return to their respective countries as lifelong friends and admirers of India. The inauguration of the conference on ‘Higher Education in India for Foreign Students’ is being held today at Azad Bhavan, ICCR Auditorium in the national Capital. 

The occaision will be graced by Smriti Zubin Irani, Minister of Human Resource Development, government of India as the chief guest. It will be chaired by Prof. Lokesh Chandra, President, ICCR.

This conference will seek to optimise the collective national effort in administering scholarships to foreign students, who can potentially be a source of enduring goodwill for India around the world. 

There is a tremendous interest in developing countries for education in India and this conference will aim to accord priority attention to various factors pertaining to the inflow of foreign students to our universities and find solutions to facilitate foreign students and cater to their needs. 

“As you may know, to recognise, celebrate and honour ICCR’s Alumni who have made significant achievements in their field, distinguished ICCR Alumni Awards were instituted last year. We are happy to count proudly many eminent persons including Cabinet Ministers and the Secretary General of ASEAN and distinguished ambassadors, you would shortly hear one of them at the Conference” said Professor Lokesh Chandra, president, ICCR. 

Ambassador Rajasekhar, Director General, ICCR said: “Hosting foreign students has many benefits to the nation.  They can be bridges between India and their respective countries in promoting mutual understanding and goodwill.  

“They add to our socio cultural diversity. They bring new perspectives and help cross pollination of ideas and expand our horizons.  They also contribute to the economy.  India is in a unique position to offer higher education to foreign students - given our vast size, competitive academic environment, cosmopolitan society and English medium education at affordable cost. 

“But to reap these benefits, we need to make conditions here conducive for them.  Different institutions- government agencies, universities and society in general need to coordinate and make India accessible to foreign students. This Conference is an attempt in that direction.” 

ICCR annually offers around 3,350 scholarship slots to international students, wishing to study in India in various programmes and disciplines. These scholarships cover traditional courses in Indian Classical dance and music, Ayurveda, Yoga etc. to modern, secular and development studies.