As part of the Obama-Singh 21st Century Knowledge Initiative, eleven top US colleges and universities were selected for a partnership programme with India. This announcement proceeded the scheduled India-US Education Summit in October.

The selected US institutions are George Mason University, Fort Hays State University, Queens College (City University of New York), Northern Illinois University, Rutgers, Rollins College, Thomas College, The State University of New Jersey, Suffolk University, University of Oregon, University of Montana, University of Kentucky and the Institute of International Education (IIE).

The Knowledge Initiative is aimed at developing faculty for new IITs and other select institutions. It will provide USD 10 million in combined funding in order to increase college linkages and support junior faculty development between Indian and US universities.

IIE President, Allan E. Goodman, said on this “Higher education is an important area of the strategic partnership between the United States and India because of its impact on fostering collaboration on critical issues that we face today. This new phase of the International Academic Partnership Programme and the strong group of campuses will strengthen the educational ties between our two nations and pave the way for students from both countries to gain important international perspective. We aim to support the Obama-Singh goal to advance the US -India global partnership for the benefit of their countries, for peace, stability and prosperity in Asia, and for the betterment of the world.”