How the ‘Office of International Affairs Supported International Students During Pandemic Crisis!

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Abdullahi Ibrahim Haruna, an African student from Nigeria, pursuing his Ph. D. at the Mechanical Department at SRM University, Sonepat, recalls the days when he was planning to visit his hometown, and the second wave of coronavirus outbreak happened in April 2021. He was struck in India then and acknowledged how the University officials supported him at those challenging times. He recollects the time when there was no one at the University except a few other International Students.

He extends his gratitude towards the SRMUH team for taking absolute care of the international students as they did in normal times. All the campus facilities, even the canteen, kept running in the lockdown period. Not only that, as the students did not have the Aadhar Card (citizen identification card), the vaccination was a big hurdle for them. But the University took all the possible measures to get him and other students vaccinated. As a result, he has already received his first dose of Covishield. Haruna thinks that the University tackled the situation in the best way possible, especially because domestic students and most staff left for their native places.

Another story was shared by a student from Afghanistan, Quaasim, who completed his MBA in India when political instability in his country struck him back. He recalls the crucial times when he felt helpless as he couldn't go back to his country. In addition, his father suffered huge losses in business. So he contacted the Office of International Affairs and expressed his interest in pursuing his PhD in Management. According to him, Mr. Vikas Bajaj at the International Affairs Department was very supportive and assisted him in preparing his file and documentation. He also helped him secure a scholarship at the University. Mr. Bajaj said, "We work for the noble cause of enlightening the world; hence we support students from diverse backgrounds from multifaceted cultures and geographies."

The International Affairs Director, Mr. Manoj Madhavan Kutty, quoted, "India is also regarded as a communication centre and is popular among international students from all over the globe. India is an academic hub that offers a holistic learning opportunity to course-seekers. The University has witnessed organic admissions, majorly from Africa and SAARC countries. In Indian Universities, English is a common communication language. This makes it very appealing for the global community. For an international student, the advantage of studying in India is that the cost of education is relatively low in comparison to other countries."

The Student Exchange Programs

SRMUH conducts student exchange programmes with colleges (both students and faculty) all across the globe. These programmes broaden students' horizons, teach them about multiculturalism, and expose them to management dynamics in various nations. We have established worldwide networks with institutions in the USA, UK, Germany, China, Australia etc nations to give maximum exposure to our university students. The multinational faculty provides all the key aspects of the global and cultural viewpoint. They encourage global education, improve research quality and increase exposure to global trends.

Here is what SRMUH assures through the progressive international collaborations:

• Advising on methods and procedures to improve higher education to International Standards
• Identifying and fostering collaboration with reputable universities and enterprises globally
• Developing research proposals for both Indian and International funding

For More Information about the University, one can visit https://srmuniversity.ac.in/