NEW DELHI, INDIA, June 25, 2013—At the U.S.-India Higher Education Dialogue today, the U.S. government representatives released an IIE white paper on the implementation of the U.S. community college model in India and the opportunities for community colleges to help meet the workforce needs of local communities in India, the world’s third largest economy.
The white paper was prepared by the Institute of International Education and sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in India. Workforce development and continued India-U.S. higher education collaboration are key issues for discussion at the Higher Education Dialogue, which is being co-chaired by Secretary Kerry and India’s HRD minister M M Pallam Raju.
This continuing dialog is based on the belief that education cooperation between the U.S. and India forms an important part of the foundation of relations between our two peoples, cutting across all fields of engagement, and that that increased collaboration in these areas leads to greater understanding and increased prosperity for both our nations. In addition to the community college initiative, the U.S. and Indian governments will discuss student mobility between the two countries and a wide range of research and innovation partnerships and institutional partnerships, as well as technology-enabled education such as massive open online courses.
The new Community College publication, edited by IIE/India Director Namrata Jha, reflects a focus on education to equip young people with the skills they need to compete globally and in new fields. In the United States, the community college system works with local industry to produce graduates with immediately applicable skills. This paper explores ways in which the model can be adapted to meet the huge demand of Indian students for higher education and realize the full potential of the youth dividend and the profound way a well-designed, country-wide community college system could advance India’s economic growth.
Allan Goodman, IIE’s president and CEO, commented, “Community colleges have long played an important role in developing workforce skills in the United States, and they are increasingly engaging in partnerships with institutions in other countries to do so. We applaud the expansion of the U.S.-India educational cooperation to include more community colleges, and we look forward to seeing fruitful collaboration.”
The publication consists of three sections:
- The U.S. Community College as a Model for Global Higher Education Systems, authored by Mary Beth Hartenstine, Program Manager, Community Colleges for International Development
- Applying the U.S. Community College Model to India: Indian Perspectives, authored by B. S. Panwar, Director of M.S. Panwar Community College; Xavier Alphonse, Director of the Indian Center for Research and Development of Community Education; and Murli Nagasundaram and Duleep Deosthale of Manipal Global Education Service.
- Applying the U.S. Community College Model to India: U.S. Perspectives, authored by Edward Valeau, Former Superintendent President of Hartnell Community College, who was a U.S. Fulbright Scholar to the country in 2003; Rahul Choudaha, Director of Research and Strategic Development at World Education Services; and Barry Bannister, Director of International Development, Green River Community College (GRCC).
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