Obama-Singh Initiative to be used for developing faculty

The Obama-Singh 21st Century Knowledge Initiative,which was announced last November,will provide USD 10 million in combined funding to increase university linkages and support junior faculty development between US and Indian universities.

In a joint statement after the conclusion of the dialogue,both countries agreed that the Obama-Singh 21st Century Knowledge Initiative will be used for developing faculty for select institutions like new IITs.

India and the US also agreed to join hands in the education sector through enhanced academic exchanges and collaborations programmes,a measure aimed at strengthening the new institutions.

The step assumes significance as India has announced the launching of eight new IITs in the last two years. Faculty shortage is a major problem in technical institutions like IITs and NITs in India.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and External Affairs Minister S M Krishna acknowledged the positive contribution of cooperation in education and science and technology to bilateral relations.

They noted the enormous potential for enhancing academic exchanges and collaboration,including through participation of US universities in India,in the context of the ongoing reforms and expansion of the higher education and professional training sectors in India, the statement said.

HRD Minister Kapil Sibal participated in the dialogue and raised the issues of Obama-Singh Knowledge Initiative,collaboration for setting up of Innovation Universities,collaboration in frontier areas of research,skill development and Indo-US Education Council.

Both nations welcomed the steps taken towards implementation of the Obama-Singh 21st Century Knowledge Initiative launched last year with the goal of increasing university linkages and junior faculty development exchanges between US and Indian universities.

They hailed formation of the India-US Higher Education Forum under the auspices of the US-India Business Council.