Destination University of Hyderabad

By R.J. Rajendra Prasad

HYDERABAD, JUNE 16. Fourteen under-graduate students from the University of Pittsburg and nine from the Missouri Southern State College (MSSC) are on the campus of the University of Hyderabad here, to begin a ``Study India Programme'' for six to nine weeks. They will take nine credits from this programme, that will be added to the credits they acquire in their own Universities.

American Universities are sending their under-graduate students to the University of Hyderabad now, though the students have the option to go to Oxford and Cambridge. ``This is because there is increasing awareness about the role of India and Asia in international affairs, and our students want to see at first hand the developments in this region and learn about its art and culture,'' says Prof. Karl Schmidt, Professor of History in the MSSC.

It is mandatory for American students to take two subjects, that of ``Introducing India'' and ``Ethnographic approaches to Indian society'', but they can chose one more from several optional subjects such as rural economy of India, democratic processes in India, communication and culture, aesthetics of Indian dance, religions of India etc..

Prof. Udaya Narayan Singh, Director of Study India Programme at the University, says that the courses are inter- disciplinary, with participating faculty from humanities, social sciences, fine arts and performing arts. The students are accommodated in the University guest houses, but they sit along with Indian students in the class rooms.

Prof. Singh says that the University of Hyderabad will get about $ 25,000 by way of course fee when the students from the California University join later next month.

They are negotiating with the Council on International Education Exchange, which has a membership of 200 universities in U.S., and from next year on, a larger number of U.S. students will take up this programme.

Mr. Jayson Kiefer (22) from Missouri says he is studying international relations, and wanted to do this course on India so that he can specialise on Asian affairs, and hopefully join the U.S. diplomatic service.

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