Fulbright for more students

KOLKATA: Following a pact signed between India and the United States, the number of students being awarded the Fulbright-Nehru Scholarships will go up considerably. While about 120 students were given the scholarship earlier, more than 170 will be able to avail of it now.
Adam J Gritsky, executive director of the United States-India Educational Foundation (USEFI) felt the Fulbright-Nehru Scholarships will not suffer following the recession."The funding is stable. So, there will be no reduction in the number of scholarships offered," he said at the conference for Fulbright scholars in South Asia on Wednesday.
Paul Philips, a medical student from the US, is between his third and fourth year of medical studies. He is currently in India, working with Arvind Eye Hospital in Madurai on an exchange programme. "I was inspired by a documentary, Infinite Vision, and decided to come to Arvind Eye Hospital. I am researching on stem cells here. My research is based on how stem cells can be grown under the ordinary condition and how it can be replaced among those who have a lesser stem cell growth."
Stephanie A Levin is spending her time at the Institute of Rural Management in Gujarat. "India is becoming an important source of idea and the director of the institute, who was once in the US, inspired me to come to Gujarat. It is a very interesting country," she said.
The conference of the scholars in South-East Asia was meant to become a common platform to discuss the methodology, stories, challenges and success of the participants, which they had faced while working in their respective fields in South-East Asia.
Traditionally, Fulbright scholarships received applications only from arts, humanities and social science students. Now, applications are received also from science and technology, business and economics students. "We want Fulbright scholars to serve as cultural ambassadors from the country they belong to," added Gritsky.
The USEFI is also trying to encourage more and more students from the North-East.