At Jammu and Kashmir’s first International Education Fair held in New Delhi, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences (SKUAST) proposed plans to curate courses with scholarships and exchange programs that could attract foreign students. India made a big pitch for foreign students to come and study in Kashmir.
On Tuesday, an event which was a collaborative effort of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences (SKUAST) and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) was held, that was inaugurated by Union Minister for External Affairs Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan, Union MoS PMO Dr Jitendra Singh, Lieutenant Governor Jammu & Kashmir Manoj Sinha and President ICCR Shri Vinay Sahasrabuddhe were also present at the event in Sushma Swaraj Bhawan.
Speaking of the revocation of certain provisions of Article 370, Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said, “Three years ago the process of change started in J&K which was intended to ensure that full benefits of the development and progress that the rest of India had seen for many years are also now completely available to the people, especially to the youth of J&K.”
He further stated, “In that sense, people of J&K being in the national mainstream was extremely important. It was also by doing so, they would connect up with the rest of India and the international mainstream. For me, it is not just an educational event, it is a very integral part of ensuring that a very important region of India is connected to what is happening in the world.”
“Today, India has projects done or under-delivery in 78 countries of the world. So, if our relationships are so extensive, investments are so deep and networking is so good, we need to see that translated into a greater flow of international students to India,” said Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
Lieutenant Governor of J&K Manoj Sinha said that with this initiative J&K launched a dedicated programme for foreign students.
“Our aim is to invite international students to J&K for short-term and long-term courses in various disciplines and strengthen the international connect. Over the past three years, we have focused on strengthening the education sector, and developing knowledge workers for sectors like industries, agriculture & health care. Sincere efforts have been made to convert the knowledge dividends into wealth for the process of innovation & growth,” Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said.
Lt Governor further said, “Apart from campuses nestled in nature’s paradise, professional faculties, high standard of living, J&K is also offering a variety of courses starting from Artificial Intelligence, Robotics to Agri-science, Yoga, Sanskrit & interface with the industries for research & innovation.”