THRISSUR: Throwing open new vistas for interdisciplinary research and other research-related activities, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU) has been selected as one of the varsities of Fulbright, from the country.
“The recognition opens up new avenues for the faculty and students to get Fulbright award to go to the US for advanced training and studies. Fulbright scholarship holders across the world can also associate with the KVASU for teaching and research,” said T P Sethumadhavan, course director, KVASU distance learning programmes.
As part of the recognition, C S Venugopal, professor, department of veterinary clinical sciences, Louisiana State University, United States and Fulbright Nehru Fellowship awardee for 2014, will be associating with KVASU for a period of five months for teaching pharmacology and related subjects from 11th August 2014 onwards. A Thrissurite, Venugopal won the award for teaching pharmacology for 5 months, he said.
Fulbright programme, including the Fulbright-Hays programme, is a highly competitive, merit-based grant for international educational exchange of students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists, founded by United States Senator J William Fulbright in 1946. Under the programme, selected US citizens will become eligible for scholarships to study, conduct research, or exercise their talents abroad; and citizens of other countries will qualify to do the same in the US as well, Sethumadhavan said.
The Fulbright programme is one of the most prestigious award programmes worldwide.
As many as 53 Fulbright alumni have won Nobel Prizes and 78 have won Pulitzer Prizes so far. The programme was established to increase mutual understanding between the people of the US and other countries through the exchange of persons, knowledge and skills, he said.
Fulbright-Nehru and other fellowships have, over the years, helped bring the people of India and the United States closer through educational exchanges. United States – India Educational Foundation (USIEF) has administered over 18,000 grants for Indians and US citizens.
USIEF alumni have demonstrated strong leadership in all walks of life, including agriculture, arts, business, education, environment, humanities and social sciences, media, public health, and science and technology, said KVASU officials.
Screening experts and selection committees look for talented individuals whose projects are important to India and the US and who have the potential to become good ‘cultural ambassadors’.