Miami Student

Issue date: 2/5/08 Section: Campus

Students of all disciplines will soon have the opportunity to study in India's "Silicon Valley," with a new Miami University sponsored semester program in Hyderabad, India.

Set to begin spring semester 2009, the Study in India program, in its final stages of the approval process, is in partnership with the University of Hyderabad, through which Miami students will be able to take a full course load.

Students will choose from an extensive list of pre-approved classes, all taught in English, which will readily transfer as Miami credits. Students will also have the option of completing an independent study with a professor in Hyderabad.

Miami students will stay with other international students-mostly Americans-in the university's new International Student House, which has its own dining facilities with specially trained chefs. Two weeklong tours-one of northern and one of southern India-are planned, as well as several weekend tours and activities in and around Hyderabad, according to senior philosophy professor and creator of the program, Miami's Rama Rao Pappu.

The price for the program will not exceed costs incurred at Miami for tuition, housing and dining. Additionally, all scholarships will transfer, with the exception of the Ohio Resident

Scholarship and the Ohio Leader Scholarship, according to David Keitges, director of international education, who also expressed excitement about the semester in India program.

"India is going to be one of the major factors affecting global economic prospects," he said.

Pappu will be accompanying the students, as well as offering three courses open to all students-Miami and non-Miami.

Requirements to participate in the new program will include at least a sophomore standing and a 3.0 grade point average. Pappu estimated taking 15 students next spring and possibly getting up to 25 participants as the program continues.

While the details are still being worked out, Pappu noted the hope for the program to eventually be extended to a yearlong venture with Miami faculty taking turns accompanying the students and teaching courses in Hyderabad.

Pappu also stressed the clarification that the program is "Study in India," not "Study India."

"You could actually be studying in India and taking classes, for example in computer science, that have nothing to do with India, but are taught by Indian professors in an Indian University and, naturally, you can't help but be affected by the Indian culture," Pappu said.

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