Chancellors from Christ University in Bangalore, India will be on the University of Nevada, Reno campus April 23 and 24 to meet with President Milton Glick, Provost Marc Johnson and the University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC) to discuss the importance of expanding international experience and global awareness among Nevada students.

“More and more students are realizing the growing importance of India in our global economy,” USAC Director of Student Information Michelle Cobb said.

Bangalore is the fifth largest city in India and is at the heart of the information technology and business outsourcing boom in South Asia. Many multinational high-tech companies have offices there and Bangalore’s Electronic City Industrial Park has become the world’s second largest producer of software.

Nevada students studying in the USAC India program have the opportunity to take classes with locals, participate in field trips to these high-tech companies and volunteer in local villages.

“Many of them find that a study abroad program in India is a wonderful way to integrate themselves in the culture and to learn more about the country through courses offered in business, sociology, art and language.”

Christ University is the host university for the USAC summer and semester study abroad programs in India. The USAC India program began in fall of 2006 and in the last year alone, enrollment in the USAC India program has increased 115 percent.

“Many of the students are taking advantage of the volunteer opportunities available to them,” Jacob John, USAC India Resident Director, said. “These opportunities allow them to learn about some of the issues facing India firsthand and they bring these experiences back into the classroom to discuss with their teachers and fellow classmates.”

USAC has had an agreement with Christ University since 2005 and the organization is pleased to host the Chancellors during their first trip to Reno. Father Thomas Chathamparampil Mathew, Vice Chancellor of Christ University, oversees the daily functions, faculty and students at Christ University. His position is equivalent to that of a university president in the United States. Father Thomas Thekkel Varghese is the Director at the Institute of Management at Christ University. He also oversees the College of Law and university admissions.

Christ University, founded in 1969, was the first college in Karnataka, India, to be accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and is rated A+, the highest rating a university can achieve. The tree-lined campus is host to 8,000 undergraduate and graduate students from every state in India.

USAC offers forty study abroad programs in 25 countries. To learn more about USAC programs and teaching opportunities, visit the USAC website or call 866-404-USAC.