US diplomat lauds UPES for its international collaborations

On a recent visit to UPES, Mr. Travis Coberly, Economic Advisor, US Embassy, spoke about the importance of international collaborations in higher education

Growing internationalisation demands a significant shift in strategy for universities to collaborate and develop academic partnerships. International collaboration in this new era involves colleges and universities coming together as one institution to change the future of higher education.

Universities across the world are forming global partnerships and fostering relationships with other academic institutions. International collaboration is an effective method that accelerates the academic excellence of students. Academic collaborations are beneficial for the faculty in learning new teaching methodology, and for the students in increasing the breadth of their knowledge.

On a recent visit to UPES, Mr. Travis Coberly, Economic Advisor, US Embassy, spoke about the role of international collaborations in university education. Mr. Travis says, “International collaboration has long been the focus of many institutions to increase the impact of research and the strength of the students’ education. As the world has become smaller and more globalized, the value of international experiences for students has only increased.” 

Giving students a global perspective through short-term and long-term exchanges helps them transcend their learning in the classroom. Offering and hosting exchange students from partner institutions across the world creates a lasting impact on the students.

Says Travis, “Last year, nearly 55,000 Indian students were issued visas to study or pursue research in the US universities. These students have had great learning experiences in the past year.”

“One area which has certainly seen a considerable change because of COVID-19 is the education sector. When universities around the world were forced to close their doors to prevent its spread, alternative methods and technologies had to be adopted overnight. Online learning and interaction became a necessity, rather than an option,” he adds.

International collaborations are not just limited to exchange programs but also joint research projects, co-authoring of research papers, and the sharing of resources through joint research grants and research equipment used. 

UPES has onboard eminent Chevening Award Scholars, Commonwealth Scholars, and Fulbright Nehru Scholars. With the help of the esteemed faculty, students will gain expertise in their chosen discipline, develop conceptual skills, and practically apply them as they process knowledge and information. 

To participate effectively in the increasingly complex societies and a globalized economy that characterize today’s world, students need to think critically, communicate effectively, collaborate with diverse peers, solve complex problems, adopt a global mindset, and engage with information and communications technologies. 

Talking about the key differentiators at UPES, Mr. Travis says, “With diverse fields and jobs, students should be prepared to work in a global environment. The multi-disciplinary environment at UPES goes a long way in the professional development of students and gives them an advantage. UPES School for Life is an extremely new and interesting concept. Students study various life skills and signature courses through this school. For instance, the entrepreneurial mindset is an important skill these days,” he adds.

Life skill courses have been included to add more value to the areas of students’ development, such as creativity, critical thinking, design thinking, persuasive presence, conversations, the art of learning, working with data, and personal branding. Some of the Signature courses students can choose from are ‘Ethical Leadership in the 21st Century, ‘Environment and Sustainability’, ‘Start your Start-up’, ‘Technologies of the Future”, and ‘Finding your Purpose in Life’.