Shastri Indo Canadian Institute explores areas of exchange with Banaras Hinu University

Varanasi, January 25, 2010: Dr. Sheila Embleton, Special Advisor to the President, Office of the President, York University Canada today called on Banaras Hindu University Vice-Chancellor Professor DP Singh at latter’s office to discuss about Indo-Canadian cultural and educational exchange programme between two countries and role of Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, which is being headed by Dr. Embleton.

Embleton proposed joint collaborations in the areas of sustainability, social justice, ecology, health, urban problems, water sanitation, women and child health between the two universities.

She highlighted some of the facts identified by Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute that there were more Indians studying Canadian studies in India than in Canada. “Canada is now giving more importance to India because of its growing potential and this is reflected from Canadian PM’s visit during November 2009 followed by British Columbia (Canada) Premiers’ visit recently”, she said adding that Canadian visa is more relaxed to Indians than earlier.

Embleton said Canadian Universities had relaxed some of their rules to adjust more and more Indian students and suggested that Indian Universities should also gear up and transform itself in such a way that they attract more Canadian students and Indian students get better chances to study in Canada.

She said the Indian universities should adopt semester system and should have provision of credit transfer and choice based credit system. This would facilitate more students and cultural exchange programme between two countries, she added.

She pointed out that Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute had many centres throughout the country. Currently there are 38 members from Canada and 58 from India. The institute believes in bio-national approach to improve the relationship between two countries, she said.

BHU Vice-Chancellor Professor DP Singh said that he would identify his university’s strength and weakness and accordingly he would plan strategy on long term basis. He suggested that courses in visual art, fine art, culture, religion, Ayurveda, music were the areas where more western students were attracted and Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute could explore possibility of collaborations in these areas with BHU. The meeting was also attended by Chairman, International Cell and PPP Cell.

Photo caption: Dr. Sheila Embleton, President, Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute (left) is being felicitated by BHU Vice-Chancellor Professor DP Singh in Varanasi on January 25, 2010.

Source: PPP Cell-BHU