Many Indian universities have exchange programs for their students, where students complete their first or second year in India and they go abroad to do their third year along with an internship. As part of these initiatives, India has invited a top American education official to visit India to develop an international teacher and student exchange program
The aim is to develop an international teacher and student exchange program among Indian states. The Indian and American states chosen so far are of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and US state of Indiana.
WHAT IS THIS EXCHANGE PROGRAM
“This will be the very first initiative by Indiana with India. Currently there are only a few exchange programs with other countries across the globe,” Chairman of Sikhs PAC Gurinder Singh Khalsa informed us. This was after his meeting with Indiana State Superintendent of Education Jennifer McCormic.
McCormick’s visit to India is expected to be later this autumn. Khalsa added that the exchange program among school students and teachers would have a long-term impact in building people-to-people relationship between the two countries. “We should have a mechanism of exchange programs for school students and teachers. This will give exposure to our students and teachers,” Khalsa said
ABOUT INDIANA
Indiana is currently working on producing a 90-minute documentary to inform student residents about the diversity of cultures. This will also showcase international citizen communities in Indiana. According to the Indiana Department of Education, there are currently 375 spoken languages registered with the State.
Last year, former Indiana Superintendent of Education Glenda Ritz announced the introduction of Sikh History in the state’s high school history curriculum. Since 2016, Indiana is the second state after California where Sikh history has become part of public schools’ history books curriculum.
