Garcetti Lauds US-India Educational Ties
India-West News Desk
NEW DELHI – On November 18, U.S. Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti launched the “Women in STEM Development and Medicine Fellowship” alongside the release of the 2024 Open Doors Report. The event, held during International Education Week, highlighted the growing collaboration between the U.S. and India in the education sector.
Speaking at the event, Ambassador Garcetti emphasized the global importance of education and gender equity in shaping the future of STEMM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine). “Today, we gather to launch the Women in STEMM Fellowship, an initiative of the U.S.-India Alliance for Women’s Economic Empowerment, led by the Gupta-Klinsky India Institute at Johns Hopkins University,” he said. He also noted the timing of the fellowship launch, calling it a celebration of the shared belief that “education is not confined by borders.”
Johns Hopkins University President Ronald J. Daniels also expressed strong support for the initiative, stating, “Empowering women in STEMM is essential for advancing global innovation. The Women in STEMM Fellowship provides Indian women scientists with critical research skills, mentorship, and global networking opportunities.” The fellowship aims to overcome barriers limiting women’s progress in STEMM by offering support and resources to help them sustain their research careers.
In addition to the STEMM initiative, Ambassador Garcetti highlighted India’s remarkable rise in U.S. higher education. He announced that for the first time since 2009, India has become the largest source of international students in the U.S. According to the Open Doors Report, nearly 197,000 Indian students were enrolled in U.S. graduate programs in the past year, a 19% increase from the previous year.
As part of International Education Week, the U.S. Consulate General in Mumbai and the University of Denver also launched a free “Digital Guide on Internationalization,” designed to help Indian institutions collaborate with U.S. universities. Additionally, USAID announced a new partnership with Sesame Workshop India Trust to enhance foundational learning and hygiene practices for children in Rajasthan and Telangana.
