India Trip Produces Partnerships for SIUE Schools of Pharmacy, Business, Engineering and CAS
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Chancellor Randy Pembrook and School of Pharmacy (SIUE SOP) Dean Gireesh Gupchup visited India in late October and early November to secure agreements that enhance SIUE’s international partnerships.
“We are in the process of increasing our efforts to recruit individuals to SIUE, in particular, Indian students interested in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields seem like a good fit for our programs,” said Pembrook. “They can finish much work at their home institutions and transfer here for completion. We believe the connections made on the trip will help with future faculty exchanges and research efforts.”
Pembrook signed an extension of a current agreement with JSS University Mysuru Dean of Global Partnerships Dr. G Parthasarathi. The agreement was initiated five years ago, and involves SIUE SOP student and faculty exchanges, teaching and research exchanges, and assisting with arranging clinical services. The JSS system includes 350 educational institutions that teach health sciences.
SIUE signed a letter of engagement with the Vidyalankar School of Information and Technology (VSIT) located in Mumbai. Vice Principal Asif Rampurwala represented VSIT. The agreement opens the door for potential collaboration with SIUE’s College of Arts and Sciences in communication. It also opens collaborations with the SIUE School of Business and its Department of Computer Management Information Systems (CMIS).
SIUE is in the process of securing a second letter of engagement for the SIUE School of Engineering with JSS Science and Technology located in Mysore.
Additionally, Pembrook served as the keynote speaker at the Asian Association of Schools of Pharmacy (AASP). “With pharmacy programs expanding in India, I was asked to address higher education concepts affecting programs on a broad basis both in the U.S. and internationally,” Pembrook said. “So, I focused on concepts such as cost, access, interdisciplinarity, soft skills including multi-lingual communication and listening, as well as customer service.”
