East meets West with Indian university exchange program
UB is expanding its borders by developing an exchange program with one of India's leading comprehensive Universities, Banaras Hindu University.
Professor Panjab Singh, representing Banaras Hindu University, visited UB for two days and met with President John B. Simpson on August 8th for a formal signing ceremony to finalize the agreement for the program.
"The agreement is effective immediately," said John Woods, vice provost for International Education. "It's too late for (this) fall and spring, but we're hoping to be sending students for the 2008-2009 academic year."
Banaras Hindu University (BHU) is a large comprehensive university, similar to UB with over 20,000 students and 124 departments. BHU also has the largest residential university community in Asia, housing more than 12,000 students.
"In terms of the match between the institutions, from UB's standpoint it was a very good idea," Wood said. "India used to be very exotic to people but now they recognize how important it is. It will benefit our students to go to India to study."
According to Wood, the basic structure of the exchange program would be to have UB students travel to India and attend Banaras Hindu University and BHU faculty and staff come to UB in order collaborate on research endeavors.
He said that one model scenario would have UB faculty escort a group of students to BHU during winter recess. Because of differences in the academic calendars, BHU will be in session and students would have the opportunity to escape Buffalo winters while immersing in Indian culture.
Another scenario has the program operating like UB's current study abroad program, where students will attend BHU for entire semesters.
"This would allow students to stay longer, experience more and have more academic exposure to the university," Wood said.
Unlike traditional exchange programs where host families take in students, UB students will live in special international housing.
Research collaborations will stem from common research interests between the two universities. No research has been slated as yet, but faculty from both schools will visit the other in order to share ideas.
"The UB community is delighted to celebrate the establishment of a formal exchange program with Banaras Hindu University," said UB President John Simpson in a press release. "(It's) a partnership that will enhance our University's ongoing internationalization and provide an outstanding partner in a critically important region of India."
Wood notes that as with all study abroad programs, the criteria for acceptance in the same.
"(A good candidate) is a mature student in good academic standing with a lot of interest in going to India," Wood said. "They don't have to have overseas experience."
Students also have to be aware of the grade conversions that coincide with international study.
"Students should work with advisors and faculty in their department to make sure that the classes they take abroad will go toward their degree," Wood said.
Although students will have the opportunity about Indian languages, there will be little concern about language barriers since English is mostly spoken throughout the university.
"English has been the higher education standard language since the British," Wood said. "In a university like this they teach in English."
The exchange program was developed through Dr. Satish Tripathi and Stephen Dunnett's travels to India in 2006. Tripathi, who is an alumnus of BHU, has long standing ties with the university.
"This is a very positive step for UB faculty and students both in terms of study and research," Wood said. "We are always looking for more opportunities for UB students to study abroad."