India is a country in South Asia. It is the 7th largest country in the world and second most populous. Four major world religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism originated here, while Islam, Christianity, Judaism and Zoroastrianism arrived in the first millennium C.E. and have shaped India's varied culture. India finally became a modern nation state in 1947 after a long struggle for independence. Although India has the second fastest growing economy in the world, it still battles poverty, illiteracy, and persistent malnutrition.

India's regions range from the Himalayan peaks of Ladakh to the desert kingdoms of Rajasthan to the bustling energy of Delhi and Mumbai to equatorial tropics of Kerala. India has tremendous biodiversity and is home to 6.7% of all mammals, 12% of apes, 6% of reptiles and 6% of all flowering plants on Earth.

On the societal side, India is the largest democracy in the world and has the world's largest Hindu population as well as the world's second largest Muslim population. Altogether, several hundred languages are spoken in India including twenty-five with over one million speakers. India is home to many World Heritage sites, including the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Humayun's Tomb, Fatehpur Sikir, Konark Sun Temple, Qutub Minar, Sanchi Stupa as well as countless castles, temples and pilgrimage points.

Over the last fifteen years, India has brought itself to the center stage of the world economy. India's engineering and technical strengths are legendary. India has become a powerhouse in software development and business process outsourcing and is making great strides in manufacturing and other high technology fields. There is no doubt that India will be a major economic force in the 21st century, though it will face significant challenges in developing infrastructure and spreading these economic gains to its still overwhelmingly rural population.

Today’s competitive job market requires applicants to distinguish themselves, and international education experience is the perfect way to do so. Having international education experience is an incredible resume booster, as it shows prospective employers that the applicants are motivated, independent, and generally more qualified. Additionally, obtaining foreign language skills can make applicants eligible for all sorts of jobs that they may have otherwise been unqualified for.

Students of American / Canadian universities are welcome to India where history, culture, color, cuisine and nature exhibit more diversity than nearly anywhere else in the world. Studying abroad in India for a semester or year will give students a fresh perspective on themselves, India, USA / Canada, and the world. By living in a foreign country such as India, students will constantly challenge themselves in many new and exciting ways and gain a level of independence they never knew they had. Studying abroad in India will expose them to diverse people and viewpoints, and they will get to experience a different way of life apart from their own in the USA / Canada. They will be immersed in the language, culture, and people of the host country and will get to experience life as residents, not as mere tourists. While studying in India, they will also earn credit towards their current degree. The Foundation will arrange study abroad programs at undergraduate and graduate levels in high quality Indian institutions, which have facilities of international standards. Students of American / Canadian universities will get the most memorable study abroad experience possible.

Students will pay the regular tuition and fees, room and board expenses, to their parent institution. American / Canadian universities will pay an agreed amount to Indian institutions for providing tuition, room and board. International travel costs will be borne by the students.

The Foundation will be pleased to assist American / Canadian universities for organizing customized study abroad programs in India. Requests for organizing the programs must be made at least six to nine months in advance of the commencement of the semesters. Interested institutions are requested to provide the following basic information so that a customized program may be developed.

* Specific objectives of the program.
* Number of students likely to participate in the program.
* Indicative dates of the semester(s)
* City in India that students would like to study.
* Any other pertinent information about the program.