US university inks pact with Punjabi varsity

PATIALA: The University of Wisconsin-Parkside, USA, has signed a MoU with Punjabi University, Patiala, to promote cooperation in education and provide international opportunities to students and laying the foundation for dialogue concerning articulated programmes of study, short educational and faculty exchange programmes between the two institutions.

Tribune News Service

Patiala, January 9

The University of Wisconsin-Parkside, USA, has signed a MoU with Punjabi University, Patiala, to promote cooperation in education and provide international opportunities to students and laying the foundation for dialogue concerning articulated programmes of study, short educational and faculty exchange programmes between the two institutions.

The MoU was signed by Dr Deborah Ford, Chancellor, and Dr Abey Kuruvilla, Executive Director, International Affairs of Wisconsin University, and Prof BS Ghuman, Vice-Chancellor, Dr GS Batra, Dean, Academic Affairs, and Prof Lakhwinder Singh, Director International Students of Punjabi University, Patiala, in the Syndicate room here today.

Both Wisconsin and Punjabi University, according to the MoU, would collaborate in student recruitment and marketing of articulated programmes for the overall benefit of the students’ community. The potential articulation agreement for Punjabi University students studying at Wisconsin University includes undergraduate 1+3 and 2+2 programmes, undergraduate to graduate 3+1+1 programmes and graduate 1+1 programmes.

They will be required to complete appropriate academic years of undergraduate or graduate study at Punjabi University and will be directly study articulated undergraduate programmes as formally registered students of the WU in their second, third or fourth academic year or as graduate degree seeking students in articulated graduate programmes.

Both universities, according to the agreement, may also develop short-term study abroad, student and faculty exchange programmes through mutually developed goals. Meritorious students will be eligible for a minimum of $2,000 scholarship to be determined on an individual basis through evaluation of academic records. The tuition fee and other charges are comparatively much lower as compared to other US universities.

Punjabi University students will be eligible for all services on a par with WU students and entitled to participate in special orientation programmes. Another important clause in the MoU relates to work and study legally in the US, both during their schools years and upon completion of their courses as permitted by the US law.