University of Michigan's Coleman To Visit India
ANN ARBOR (AP) - Strengthening ties with alumni in India and pursuing collaboration with schools and researchers in that country will be the focus of a visit later this year by University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman.
Coleman will spend about a week in India in November, The Michigan Daily reported on its website.
Coleman's fifth international trip as Michigan's president will include stops in Mumbai and New Delhi. She also has visited Brazil, China, Ghana and South Africa on behalf of the university.
Plans are for Coleman to reach out to alumni living and working in India.
"They have a lot of MBA graduates, and now BBA graduates, who are generally visible people in their communities," said Jo Rumsey, vice president for International Alumni Relations at the University of Michigan Alumni Association. "They take the initiative. They get out there ahead of others. India's alumni ... have been pretty active in wanting to stay in touch with the University."
University research has benefited from relationships in other countries, according to the school. The school is involved in a Science Without Borders program in Brazil and is conducting medical research in Ghana.
"We're exploring some interesting opportunities for some new educational exchange study abroad programs" in India, said Mark Tessler, vice provost for International Affairs.
Research projects between University of Michigan faculty and faculty at schools in India also could be pursued, he said.
The India trip should be beneficial to the university and India, according to Coleman.
"We are not going to set up a campus in India. We're not going to try to recruit students," Coleman said. "We're not going for any of those things that would just be helpful to us."
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