TIRUVANANTHAPURAM : The National Institute of Speech and Hearing (NISH), Thiruvananthapuram, in collaboration with Purdue University, West Lafayette, USA, hosted a ‘study abroad’ programme.
The week-long event was jointly organised by Purdue University and NISH to enable the students from the US to learn about the speech and hearing clinical services in India.The team from Purdue consisted of two Purdue professors and nine students. The students from both institutes interacted with each other at NISH for professional activities and during social outings.
“The purpose of the programme is for the US students to learn and experience speech and hearing clinical services in India and culturally be immersed in Indian culture,” said Lata Krishnan, clinical professor from Purdue University.“It was interesting to see the similarities and differences of how we test children,” said Madeline Kaiser, a Purdue student. NISH students were equally positive and said it was exciting to have a group of students from US at their campus.
The week-long programme concluded with a one-day outreach camp at Pullampara near Venjaramood.
“Let this be a pioneering study abroad programme. The hope is for our students to get an opportunity to study abroad and for the foreign students to study with us,” said K G Satheesh Kumar, executive director of NISH.A total of 41 people underwent hearing screening at the camp, organised with the support of the Integrated Child Development Service of the Department of Women and Child Welfare. The ‘study abroad’ programme ended on Saturday.