U.S./India Higher Education U.S./India Higher Education RoundtableRoundtable

Brown UniversityBrown University

Shelley Stephenson, Director of International Shelley Stephenson, Director of International Initiatives;Initiatives;

Ashutosh Varshney, Professor of Political Ashutosh Varshney, Professor of Political Science and Director,Science and Director,

Year of India (2009-2010)Year of India (2009-2010)

Research/teaching/resourcesResearch/teaching/resources

South Asian Faculty Group South Asian Faculty Group (1976)(1976)Prominent current projectsProminent current projects

Center for AIDS Research: partnerships in Chennai (YRG CARE) Center for AIDS Research: partnerships in Chennai (YRG CARE) and Vellore (Christian Medical College)and Vellore (Christian Medical College)NSF grant on inequality in developing countries (Centre for the NSF grant on inequality in developing countries (Centre for the Study of Developing Societies)Study of Developing Societies)Indo-US Center for Biomaterials (IIT-Kanpur)Indo-US Center for Biomaterials (IIT-Kanpur)Moon mineralogy mapper launched on 2008 Indian Chandrayaan-I Moon mineralogy mapper launched on 2008 Indian Chandrayaan-I missionmission

  South Asian Studies concentration South Asian Studies concentration (approved 1985); language (approved 1985); language

instruction; Ph.D.instruction; Ph.D.  Library & museum holdingsLibrary & museum holdings

Indian Census Data (dating to 1872)Indian Census Data (dating to 1872)Pingree collection: 22,000 vols. (antiquarian & recent)Pingree collection: 22,000 vols. (antiquarian & recent)Haffenreffer Museum (300+ holdings from India)Haffenreffer Museum (300+ holdings from India)

Brown studentsBrown students

Study abroadStudy abroadBrown in India Program (St. Stephen’s College, Lady Shri Ram College)Brown in India Program (St. Stephen’s College, Lady Shri Ram College)  Internships and fellowshipsInternships and fellowshipsSummer internships in various companies in Bangalore, Kolkata, Delhi, Summer internships in various companies in Bangalore, Kolkata, Delhi,

Mumbai, including Infosys, Reliance, Godrej, Hindustan Times.Mumbai, including Infosys, Reliance, Godrej, Hindustan Times.Research fellowships for undergrads & graduate studentsResearch fellowships for undergrads & graduate students  AdmissionsAdmissionsApplications up, growing to 260 last year (37 accepted; yielding 18)Applications up, growing to 260 last year (37 accepted; yielding 18)Financial aid has also grownFinancial aid has also grown

Student experienceStudent experienceSouth Asian Students Association (formed 1982); Identity Series; South Asian Students Association (formed 1982); Identity Series;

Women’s Collective,, Arts Journal, Fusion Dance TeamWomen’s Collective,, Arts Journal, Fusion Dance TeamBrown Club of IndiaBrown Club of India

Expansion Plans (1)Expansion Plans (1)Year of India (2009-2010), announced by President Ruth Simmons and headed by Year of India (2009-2010), announced by President Ruth Simmons and headed by

me, officially signaled Brown’s rising institutional commitment to India. me, officially signaled Brown’s rising institutional commitment to India.

Events included :Events included :

(1) Strictly research-based activities (international conferences on “Six Decades of (1) Strictly research-based activities (international conferences on “Six Decades of Democracy in India” and “Philosophy of Mahabharata)”, Democracy in India” and “Philosophy of Mahabharata)”,

(2) Literature and the Arts (MF Husain Exhibit, Salman Rushdie, Jhumpa Lahiri, (2) Literature and the Arts (MF Husain Exhibit, Salman Rushdie, Jhumpa Lahiri, Suketu Mehta, Zakir Husain,); and Suketu Mehta, Zakir Husain,); and

(3) Discussion of “Public Affairs” (Minister Salman Rushdie on Muslims; Narayana (3) Discussion of “Public Affairs” (Minister Salman Rushdie on Muslims; Narayana Murthy, founder of Infosys, on IT and Global Economy; Rajmohan Gandhi on Murthy, founder of Infosys, on IT and Global Economy; Rajmohan Gandhi on Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King; Mani Shankar Aiyar on Local Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King; Mani Shankar Aiyar on Local Governance in India and China; Shekhar Gupta on Media and Democracy; Governance in India and China; Shekhar Gupta on Media and Democracy; Siddharth Varadarajan on India’s interests in Afghanistan; as well as discussions Siddharth Varadarajan on India’s interests in Afghanistan; as well as discussions on environment and climate change, India-Pakistan relations, and post civil war on environment and climate change, India-Pakistan relations, and post civil war Sri Lanka)Sri Lanka)

Expansion Plans (2)Expansion Plans (2)Brown will NOT open a campus in India. But it will vastly expand its presence in, and Brown will NOT open a campus in India. But it will vastly expand its presence in, and

engagement with, India.engagement with, India.

Establishment of an (i) India Advisory Council, headed by Mukesh and Nita Ambani (Brown Establishment of an (i) India Advisory Council, headed by Mukesh and Nita Ambani (Brown Parents), and (ii) South Asia Strategy Committee at Brown, headed by me.Parents), and (ii) South Asia Strategy Committee at Brown, headed by me.

Establishment of an India Fund at Brown in 2008-9.Establishment of an India Fund at Brown in 2008-9.

Establishment of a Brown India Office expected by the end of the academic year in Delhi or Establishment of a Brown India Office expected by the end of the academic year in Delhi or Mumbai. Aim: management of India-based research initiatives, recruitment of Indian Mumbai. Aim: management of India-based research initiatives, recruitment of Indian students for Brown college beyond the metropolitan cities, fund raising, institutional students for Brown college beyond the metropolitan cities, fund raising, institutional collaboration, and public relations.collaboration, and public relations.

Expanded student exchanges with St. Stephens College, Delhi, and IIT, Mumbai.Expanded student exchanges with St. Stephens College, Delhi, and IIT, Mumbai.

Expanded research-based partnership for the social sciences with the Centre for Policy Expanded research-based partnership for the social sciences with the Centre for Policy Research (Delhi) and Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (Delhi), and for the Research (Delhi) and Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (Delhi), and for the Sciences and Engineering with IIT Mumbai.Sciences and Engineering with IIT Mumbai.

Partnerships with think tanks: Observer Research Foundation (Delhi)Partnerships with think tanks: Observer Research Foundation (Delhi)

Several additional faculty positions in South Asia under consideration at BrownSeveral additional faculty positions in South Asia under consideration at Brown

Proposal for a South Asia Program/Center under consideration at Brown Proposal for a South Asia Program/Center under consideration at Brown