天美传媒 is hosting 12 students from the Symbiosis International University in India as part of 鈥楧estination England鈥�, a two-week, student mobility programme.
The students, all undergraduates from the Symbiosis School of Liberal Arts (SSLA) in Pune, arrived on campus on May 12, and based in the Faculty of Media and Communication (FMC).
鈥淭he idea is to enhance student experience and facilitate exposure to educational and work cultures abroad,鈥� said Dr Chindu Sreedharan, the lead coordinator for the programme. 鈥淟ast month, ten BU students spent time at the SSLA. They had a wonderful learning opportunity, taking a range of classes鈥攆rom Indian philosophy to Bollywood dancing鈥攁nd I hope the SSLA students have a similar, fulfilling experience with us.鈥�
Dr Sreedharan organised the programme with FMC colleague Dr Salvatore Scifo, and Dr Alastair Morrison and Kerry Leanne-Berry of BU鈥檚 International Development team.
While at BU, the visiting students have a packed schedule that weaves together an interdisciplinary programme drawing from media, journalism, international politics, and management. Sessions so far have included 鈥楪lobal citizenship: encountering the Other鈥�, 鈥楥ommunity radio in Britain鈥�, and 鈥楴ew media: science futorology and predictions鈥�. Students also received training in camera work and video editing.
鈥淎 lot of what we鈥檙e covering here is so different and interesting,鈥� says Pashmi Shah, a media major, who is about to start her final year at SSLA. 鈥淚 have two semesters left in my programme and I think everything I learn will help me for those two semesters and further.鈥�
Mehak Wadhwani, a third-year English major at SSLA, said a large part of the experience of studying abroad lies outside the classroom鈥攊n the people you meet, the places you visit, the stories you hear and even the food you eat.
鈥淎ll that perspective can only help you grow.鈥� Mehak said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 one thing to experience England as a tourist, but I think that the representation we鈥檙e encountering right now is more authentic.鈥�
The SSLA students have several field trips in their schedule, including visits to Stonehenge and Bath, and chronicle their experiences at BU and beyond on , a group blog.聽
The exchange programme is among the first activities organised by Connect India, BU鈥檚 newly launched Hub of Practice for South Asia, which aims to foster collaborations between BU academics and their counterparts in the Indian industry and educational institutionals.
鈥淚n the next two years, we hope to have more of our students and staff travelling to India,鈥� said Dr Sreedharan, who is also the principal investigator for Connect India. 鈥淎nd there should be more students visting us from India as well.鈥�
