PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Aug 29: XLRI Jamshedpur, one of India’s premier B-schools, recently hosted the official outreach visit of the US Consul General, Melinda Pavek.
During her visit, Pavek engaged in an exchange of ideas with the faculty, students and the administration of XLRI.
She engaged in a discussion with Prof. Sanjay Patro, Dean (Academics) at XLRI Jamshedpur, in addition to other members of the faculty.
Prof. Patro informed the US Consul General about the diverse range of academic programs the institute offers. He also emphasized the institute’s robust worldwide alumni network.
XLRI alumni occupy esteemed roles, including chief human resources officers, within some of the best companies globally.
Furthermore, Prof. Patro pointed out that there are over 400 XLRI alumni residing in New York.
Pavek delved into the importance that President Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were placing on collaboration between Indian and U.S. institutes of higher education, noting that government-to-government support for student and research exchanges were one area of effort that assisted the natural connections between schools created by Fulbright-Nehru alumni and Indian diaspora faculty working in U.S. universities.
She shared ideas about other possibilities for fostering relationships and enhancing student exchange initiatives.
Pavek stated that U.S. Ambassador Eric Garcetti has a vision of more U.S. students coming to India for exchange programs of varying lengths to develop an understanding of the diversity, energy and talents of India.
The mutual benefits that active exchanges offer students from both nations facilitates their holistic growth.
“The differences between our educational systems and calendars — and especially how those differences create financial or logistical challenges for the students we seek to assist — need to be carefully assessed in our planning,” said Pavek.
The professors highlighted the substantial enthusiasm displayed by students in engaging with foreign universities and companies for summer internships and agreed that the disparity between Indian and U.S. academic calendars, specifically concerning semester schedules and summer internship timing, posed a challenge that hindered the overall process.
They agreed to think creatively about how to overcome these challenges.
When asked by a professor, “What causes delays in the U.S. visa application process? We, as professors, are unable to make urgent trips to the US.”
In response, Pavek explained, “Educational and research collaboration exchanges are a priority for the U.S. Mission in India. The visa team has been actively working to increase the number of visa appointments available and also provides interview waiver appointments with a much shorter wait time than for first-time applicants as well as emergency appointments for specific kinds of travel that could not be foreseen.”
She encouraged people who are considering travel to the United States to book an appointment, even far into the future and continue to monitor the website to self-prepone when earlier appointments are made available.
The faculty interaction was followed by the US Consul General’s talk on “Challenges and Opportunities in Supply Chain Management” delivered to a vibrant group of XLRI students.
