Bhubaneswar, July 19: More number of foreign students should prefer to study in Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Deemed to be University here as it always strives for excellence, Dr. Pradip Singh Rajpurohit, Joint Secretary in the External Affairs Ministry, said on Tuesday.
Dr. Rajpurohit, who looks after West Asia and North Africa, interacted with senior University officials while on a visit to SOA.
He said middle income group families in countries like Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, South Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Yemen, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain prefer India for higher studies of their children. It was because of the tension and war like situation prevailing in several of these countries, he said.
SOA should take this opportunity to allow students from these countries to study in the university, he said.
India, Dr. Rajpurohit said, enjoyed friendly relations with Israel while countries like Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia and Yemen shared good relationship with our country.
SOA’ s Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda presented an overview about SOA in the meeting.
Among others, Prof. Manjula Das, Controller of Examination, Prof. Neeta Mohanty, Dean, faculty of dental sciences, Prof. Bijay Kumar Sahu, Dean, faculty of agricultural sciences, Prof. Sitikantha Mishra, Dean cum Advisor, faculty of hospitality and tourism management, Prof. P. K. Sahu, Dean, faculty of engineering and technology, Prof. Anup Kumar Samantaray, Dean, faculty of management sciences and Prof. Nachiketa K. Sharma, Director, University Outreach Program were present. Prof. Jyoti Ranjan Das, Dean, Students’ Welfare, proposed the vote of thanks.