2011 Passport To India Roundtable

November 1, 2017 October 10, 2011

The Institute of International Education hosted a roundtable discussion on the U.S. Department of State’s Passport to India Initiative. The discussion centered on increasing internship opportunities for U.S. students in India through this new initiative.

The roundtable discussion, hosted by IIE President and CEO Allan E. Goodman, featured remarks by Robert O. Blake, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, United States Department of State; and Molly Maguire Teas, Senior Advisor for Education, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, U.S. Department of State.

The Passport to India Initiative promotes internships for American high school and college students in India, allowing them to gain an understanding of the country’s people, history, culture, and rapidly developing infrastructure. With private funding, the effort encourages businesses to partner with U.S. schools, colleges, foundations, or international organizations to commit to sponsoring American students to intern in their India-based offices and factories.

During the event, leaders from the Institute of International Education announced a new internship program in support of the Passport to India Initiative. BRITE INDIA – IIE Business and Research Internships for Technology and Education – will take the form of a public/private partnership and help expose future business leaders in the U.S. to India.With support from the private sector, this program will seek to promote international opportunities for U.S. undergraduate and graduate students in India, allowing them to gain an understanding of the country’s people, history and culture as well as rapidly developing social and economic infrastructure.