Ameri announces to double fellowship for education in US

Kolkata, Aug 22 (UNI) Reiterating the commitment of United States' to extend full cooperation to the nations for mutual understanding, Goli Ameri, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, today announced to double the fellowship given to the students for higher learning in US.

Addressing a press conference here, Ms Ameri, who also leads the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, said access to quality education was a fundamental requirement that could promote the talents and the ambitions of our people in the global economy.

'' A better-educated workforce can attract investment and create employment opportunities besides strengthening democracy and civil society, '' she added.

Ms Ameri maintained that India sends more students to the US than any other country. In academic year 2006-07, there were 83,833 students from the country, she informed.

Since academic session 2001-02, India has remained the leading place of origin for the students coming to the US, she said adding India was becoming an increasingly popular destination for the American students studying abroad.

She further informed that the US government has taken National Security Language initiative to impart education in foreign languages including Arabic, Persian, Russian, Chinese, Turkish and Indian languages.

A number of American students were coming here to learn Bengali and other vernaculars, she added.

She also reminded that US Ambassador David C.Mulford and Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon signed a historic new Fulbright agreement on July 4, strengthening educational exchanges between the two countries.

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