Student exchanges between Japan, 12 Indian institutes

NEW DELHI - Japanese educational institutions will start student exchange programme with at least 12 educational institutes including Indian Institutes of Technology and other universities.

Yuichiro Anzai, a former president of Keio University and a leading figure in the Japanese academic arena, is touring India between April 6-10 to discuss and exchange views with Uday B. Desai, director of Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad (IIT-H) regarding faculty and student exchange programs between the IIT-H and Japanese universities.

Anzai has been designated by the Japanese government as adviser to the IIT-H consortium of Japan, that was established in August 2009 and comprising of government, academia and industry partners from Japan, a communication officer of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Monday told IANS.

Japan is helping the newly established IIT-H to grow as a world class institute.

Other institutes with which Japanese universities will have student exchange programme include Indira Gandhi National Open University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi University, University of Hyderabad, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, IIM-Calcutta, Indian Institute of Science (Bangalore), IITs in Bombay, Delhi, Kanpur and Madras.

During the visit, which is organised by the JICA, Anzai is expected build a roadmap for promotion of faculty and student exchanges.

Both Japan and India had agreed in 2007 for bettering educational ties by starting student exchange programmes.