US-India trade promotion body launches education initiative

WASHINGTON - Looking ahead to global economy of the future, the US-India Business Council (USIBC) has launched a new education initiative aimed at strengthening institutional linkages between academia, industry and NGOs focusing on the elementary, vocational and higher education.

“The US and India must be committed partners in building the workforce of tomorrow, a partnership that will unleash opportunity, spur growth and sustain prosperity not just in our countries but across the global community,” said Harold McGraw III, new president of the trade promotion body representing 300 US companies in India.

“To do this, we must focus on strengthening our educational ties at every level. By working together our two countries can equip the next generation with the education and skills necessary to compete and win in the global economy,” the chairman, president and CEO of The McGraw-Hill Companies said while addressing the USIBC 35th anniversary summit meeting Wednesday.

USIBC said its Education Initiative will serve as a dynamic platform for business, NGOs, and academia to provide vital input into both the US and Indian governments such that the synergies between American and Indian business and educational communities are unleashed.

“We can talk about strategic, defence, civil nuclear, renewable energy and every other type of commercial cooperation, but if we do not develop the skill sets in our respective societies to sustain such collaboration, all this talk will never be successfully converted to action,” said USIBC President Ron Somers.

“How fortunate it is that families across all walks of life in both our societies so highly value education. We have much to learn from one another, and much to accomplish to prepare for the challenges of the 21st Century,” he said.

The USIBC Education initiative will focus on three thrust areas of higher education, vocational training and skills development

A US-India Higher Education Forum (HEF) will serve as the premier platform to enlist academia, industry and NGOs to strengthen linkages between US and Indian educational institutions and provide direct policy input to the US and Indian governments to facilitate greater collaboration, including the opening of India’s higher education sector.

USIBC has also embarked on a survey of rural and urban, private and public K-12 schools throughout India to identify best practices that are working well in educating students, while assessing needs where industry, NGOs and government may join together to fill gaps.

With the support of Ryan International Group, one of India’s leading educators, both financial and intellectual resources will be mobilised to transform these and other schools in a manner that promotes replication of successful models across India.

USIBC said it will partner with its member-companies to feature Case Studies of Vocational Training and Skills Development that are being implemented across India.