US university fair in Delhi rescheduled due to poor air quality

The US University Education Fair in Delhi has been postponed due to hazardous air quality. Education USA is yet to announce the revised schedule for the event.

In Short

• US university fair in Delhi postponed over air pollution
• Fair aimed to guide Indian students on US scholarships
• Education USA has yet to announce a new date for the event

The US University Education Fair, originally scheduled for November 21 at the American Center in Delhi, has been postponed due to deteriorating air quality in the city. EducationUSA, the organiser, has not yet announced a new date for the event. The fair, supported by the US Department of State, is designed to help Indian students explore scholarship opportunities, admission processes, and other academic pathways.

This year, other universities abroad have also introduced programmes to attract a larger number of students. For the first time, a university from Australia has decided to open its campus in India.

Delhi is grappling with its worst air pollution since 2019, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) soaring to a hazardous level of 494 on Monday.

In Noida, all schools have been shut under Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which has been activated across the NCR. Universities in Delhi have also adapted to the crisis, with the University of Delhi (DU) and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) continuing online classes until at least November 23 and November 22, respectively.

STATUS FROM OTHER UNIVERSITIES

International universities are increasingly strengthening their presence in India through various programmes and initiatives.

Collaborative degree programmes, such as dual degrees and twinning arrangements, allow students to study partly in India and partly abroad, while several global institutions, like Deakin University and the University of Wollongong, are establishing branch campuses in India, particularly in GIFT City, Gujarat.

Exchange and summer school programmes with prestigious universities like Harvard, Oxford, and NUS provide immersive experiences, and online degree options from institutions like Purdue and the University of Arizona offer globally recognised credentials at home.

Education fairs and platforms like Education USA guide Indian students on scholarships and admissions, with popular options including Chevening (UK), Fulbright-Nehru (USA), and DAAD (Germany).

Skill-focused programmes from Canadian and Australian universities cater to emerging fields like IT and healthcare, while regional hubs like Germany and Singapore specialise in engineering and finance.

Supported by the Indian government through initiatives like NEP 2020 and 'Study in India', these efforts aim to make global education more accessible and impactful for Indian students.