20 FOR 2020: Celebrating the shared educational goals of the U.S. and India

November 22, 2011

U.S. President John F. Kennedy once said, “a child miseducated is a child lost”. Likewise, Prime Minister Nehru was a strong advocate of education, supporting the creation of the Indian Institutes of Technology and Management, and committing significant funding to ensure education would be a possibility for all Indians. When it comes to education, the dreams and desires of the U.S. and India are one and the same.  Collaboration on higher education is a major pillar in the U.S.-India strategic dialogue, and I’m pleased to speak to you today about our shared commitment.  

In the year 2000, the United States began celebrating International Education Week: it is now celebrated in more than 100 countries, as we are doing here today. India is an appropriate location to highlight international education and exchange. More than 100,000 Indians currently study in the United States, and an increasing number of Americans are discovering India as a quality educational destination. The people-to-people ties between our two countries are strong, and these ties are elevating our relationship to greater heights. 

The theme of this year’s Education Week is “International Education: Inspiring Students Locally to Succeed Globally”. As U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan noted, “[this] is an ideal opportunity to inspire students to broaden their horizons through global learning, foreign languages and international exchange.” Over the course of this week officers from the U.S. Consulate Chennai are speaking at 20 different institutions in Chennai and across South India. We are proud to be doing our part in celebrating the week, and happy you all have taken the time-- just after exams as I understand it-- to celebrate as well.  

In light of this theme, I want to talk about research collaboration, study and work abroad, and entrepreneurship, and how each of these helps the U.S. and India to share and learn from each other, and to improve the lives of our citizens.

In the early 1980’s, Howard Gardner, an American psychologist, started wondering if a single score such as IQ was an adequate measure of a person’s ability. For example, cricket player Sachin Tendhulkar is clearly a genius in his profession, but IIT test scores will not be the right criterion to judge such genius. Likewise, emotional, artistic, and spatial abilities are important skills but not necessarily captured by IQ scores. So Gardner has championed what he calls “multiple intelligences”: by which he notes that there are different forms of intelligence, and that schools and society need to find ways to cultivate these, rather than limiting education to a single tract. His theory has had tremendous impact on educational philosophy worldwide.  In the same way, the U.S. and India are looking at a range of ways to partner across areas of education and mutual understanding. 

Promoting research and scholarship has been a hallmark of the U.S.-India partnership, providing scholars the opportunity to collaborate and share their ideas with new communities. Our two governments are partnering to offer Fulbright – Nehru Awards, higher education fellowships for the most outstanding students, academics and professionals in India and the U.S. to study, research and engage in work experiences that benefit both countries. India has the largest Fulbright scholar exchange programs worldwide, with more than 17,000 fellowships and other grants awarded to Indians and Americans since it began.  

For more information on Fulbright-Nehru Awards, and higher education in the United States in general, I would point you to the U.S.-India Educational Foundation (USIEF).  USIEF has an office collocated with the U.S. Consulate and offers students – and their parents –comprehensive information and counseling services on higher education in the U.S.  USIEF also supports multiple education fairs each year featuring U.S. colleges and universities – last year, USIEF assisted with five fairs in Chennai which included 91 American institutions.   So, if you are considering study in the United States, I highly recommend that you stop by the Consulate to see USIEF or visit our webpage.    

President Obama and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh launched the Obama-Singh initiative during the latter’s State Visit to the U.S. in November 2009.    Under this ten million dollar program – co-funded equally by the Governments of India and the United States, institutions can propose innovative projects to advance scholarship and teaching, and promote reliable, long-term communication between partner institutions. Over the next decade we can expect to see many fruitful outcomes from these partnerships. In line with Howard Gardner's theory, we are looking to our educational institutions to help us identify multiple paths to educational excellence, and to share our best ideas with each other. 

Next I want to talk about the value of studying and working abroad. As I mentioned earlier, more than 100,000 Indians currently study in the U.S. And well over half a million Indians travel to the U.S. each year. Likewise, more than 800,000 Americans travel to India each year.  

It’s important to remember that not all education takes place in a classroom. Whether for study or leisure or work, when you visit another country, your experiences have a lasting effect on your worldview. The 19th century U.S. author and humorist, Mark Twain once said, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” I encourage you to keep this in mind, and embrace opportunities to travel when they present themselves.  It’s worth highlighting some of the Indian-Americans who have combined study and experience in India and in the U.S. as they achieved great things.

Venki Ramakrishnan, who took home the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2009, was born in Tamil Nadu and earned his graduate degree from Ohio.  

Indra Nooyi studied at MCC (Madras Christian College) before moving on to Yale, and now serves as Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo. 

V.S. Ramachandran, considered one of the top neuroscientists in the world, works in San Diego but got his start at Stanley Medical College in Chennai.  

U.S. journalist Thomas Friedman said the world is flat, and it’s true that global experience has become a central component to success across a range of professional fields. We are all world citizens, and with that comes a responsibility to learn about other cultures not just through reading but through experience. Our two leaders, President Obama and Prime Minister Singh, both spent significant years abroad, and have spoken about how those experiences have been beneficial to their lives. Over the next decade we want to see more Americans coming to India, and more Indians going to the United States.  And even if travel is not immediately possible, we want to make cross-cultural connections locally, as we are doing here today. As you approach the end of your degree program, start thinking about ways to travel, for school, work or leisure. The education you receive from these experiences will be invaluable. 

Finally, some thoughts on innovation and opportunity. This week also happens to be Global Entrepreneurship Week, “where millions of young people from around the world highlight the value of new ideas and embrace innovation, imagination and creativity.”  Education, innovation, and entrepreneurship are closely linked – something that our U.S. companies know, as many of them have partnered with universities on programs fostering innovative thinking.   It’s important that our governments and private sectors both champion new ideas, and create an environment where innovation is both welcomed and supported.  

I would like to share an anecdote about fostering innovation.  Back in the 1960's, one of Hewlett Packard's original founders and then President, Bill Hewlett, took a phone call from a local 12 year old working on a school project. Rather than hang up, Mr. Hewlett helped the child with the project and eventually gave him a summer internship at Hewlett Packard. 

That child was Steve Jobs, former CEO of Apple computers, who passed away last month after a long battle with cancer.  Steve Job’s life accomplishments make him, arguably, the most innovative person of the last half century, -- and it all started with someone giving him a chance and fostering his creative talent.   

In the spirit of International Education and Global Entrepreneurship weeks, we can all take lessons from Steve Jobs and his story.  For our governments, business leaders, institutions, and educators, we need to seek out opportunities to promote innovation and entrepreneurship.  And for you, the youth who will be leading in the globalized 21st century, we encourage you to be bold; be different; be passionate about your ideas, and do whatever it takes to push your good ideas forward. And don't be afraid to fail. If you are bright and motivated, you can overcome your mistakes. The world needs good ideas, and people who are willing to work to make them a reality. 

Mahatma Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”  As you think about where you will be ten years from now, try to imagine what you would like to be doing, and what you want the world to be like. If the last ten years are any indication, we can expect lots of surprises.  

Ten years ago many things seemed impossible. Who would have thought we could have computers the size of a notebook that allow us to see and hear friends halfway around the world? Who would have thought Secretary Clinton would be in Chennai, watching dancers at Kalakshetra? And who would have thought Rajinikanth would be making hit movies that premiere in Chennai and New York on the same day? 

So be inspired to start shaping the world. You all have a chance to do great things, and it starts with a good global education and deciding you're going to make a difference. I hope my examples have given you something to think about...and perhaps a little inspiration.

Thank you for your attention today. I know we face big challenges, but with our two countries working together on all levels, I'm confident we can achieve great things together. Thank you. 

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