When Jeffrey Riedinger sits down for dinner in Bangalore, India, on Sunday, it will be the first of many during a weeklong journey throughout the country.
Riedinger, dean of MSU’s International Studies and Programs and director of MSU’s Center for Advanced Study of International Development, will travel to India as part of the Institute of International Education, or IIE, U.S. University Presidents’ Delegation to India. He will accompany U.S. Under Secretary of Education Martha Kanter and officials from 12 other universities, such as Bryn Mawr College and the University of Kentucky, to the Indian cities of Bangalore, Pune and New Delhi.
Riedinger said increased media exposure because of the inclusion of Kanter and other U.S. government officials will help raise awareness of MSU’s mission in India.
“The first thing is to increase visibility,” Riedinger said. “(MSU) wants to highlight that we have been there for a very long time doing work with our Indian partners.”
Aside from meeting with officials, such as the Indian Minister of Education, Riedinger said the trip will allow him to touch base with MSU alumni in various areas and give him the opportunity to find out what types of challenges they face in India.
“I’m hoping to come back with new opportunities for MSU,” Riedinger said. “I’m mindful of the (IBM Global Delivery Center for Application Services) on campus. IBM has a major facility in India and part of what attracted them was the strength of our relationships in (the country).”
IIE President Allan Goodman said the trip to India is the latest in a series of trips designed to establish ties among U.S. institutions and countries, such as China and Indonesia, with growing technology markets and economies.
“We think it is important for higher education to get out into the world,” Goodman said. “People need to see universities coming in and saying, ‘We have people like you on our campus. We want you to come here.’”
Goodman said the trip will conclude March 7 with a conference in New Delhi, where Kanter will give a presentation to nearly 100 representatives from higher education institutions from across India.
In an e-mail, Kanter said she looked forward to visiting several of India’s universities and talking about ensuring quality education and access to higher education for students of both countries.
Eric Freedman, assistant dean of MSU’s International Studies and Programs, said it was important to continue cultivating relationships with India because of MSU’s substantial ties with the country.
“Historically, we have had large numbers of students and faculty members from India and of Indian heritage at MSU,” Freedman said. “We have a long tradition as a university working in India on research and projects for everything from veterinary medicine to social science and community development.”
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