For the first time, Pune to host Indo-US education conclave

Pune will be hosting the first-ever three-day national Indo-US education conclave, a mega exercise to explore collaborations in higher education sector between the two countries.    

The conclave organised by the Alliance for US India Business (AUSIB) along with State Legislative Leaders Foundation (SLLF), US, and DY Patil University (DPU), Pune, will be held from December 5 to 7 at Hotel Westin in Koregaon Park.    

Founder and president of AUSIB, Sanjay Puri, while addressing a press meet, which was held on November 24 at Hotel Le Meridian, said, “With a bigger strategic objective, this education conclave of such a large scale is arranged for the first time for collaboration between the two countries in multiple fields of education.”  

With a focus on getting something concrete from the conclave, Puri informed that for the first time they are involving critical and crucial decision-makers from both the countries. “Over 25 state legislators, who are drivers of education in the US and the real policy makers controlling the education budget, are part of the 90-member US delegation visiting Pune for the conclave. The US delegation will also include education leaders from over 20 state universities of the US, academicians and corporate heads,” said Puri.  

Chancellor of DPU Pune, PD Patil; PN Razdan, vice chancellor, DPU and Shishir Misra, head, new initiatives, AUSIB, were also present at the press meet.

Saying that the US delegates are willing to make various deals happen, Misra said, “At the conclave, they are looking for partnership and bringing to table MoUs, joint degrees, research programmes, faculty exchange and other aspects.”

The Maharashtra government is a partner state of the event, supported by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and Maharashtra University for Health Sciences (MUHS).The conclave will be inaugurated by K Sankaranarayanan, governor of Maharashtra.  

It was also mentioned that Union agriculture and food processing industries minister, Sharad Pawar, will be present as the chief guest along with Vilasrao Deshmukh, Union minister for sciences & technology and earth sciences; DY Patil, governor of Tripura and FH Faleomavaega, member of Congress, US House of Representatives, Washington DC.

A non-profit, non-partisan and independent organisation, established in 1972, SLLF is committed to providing specialised educational and enrichment programmes for the leaders in the US.

A non-profit trade association, AUSIB seeks to augment investment flows and trade between US and India, opening new channels of communication between business and government leaders.