A three-member delegation from Mumbai, India, is visiting Kapiʻolani Community College, Hawaiʻi Community College and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa June 22–30. They are meeting with key UH administrators and government officials to discuss and finalize a joint grant proposal between President Barack Obama and India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to support efforts to develop a similar community college model within the University of Mumbai. The visit is part of India’s ambitious initiative to establish 10,000 community colleges for 500 million students by 2030.
The University of Mumbai has 667 affiliated colleges and more than 690,000 undergraduate students.
“They are coming here to learn what makes U.S. community colleges successful and how the U.S. model can be adapted to India,” said Kapiʻolani CC Chancellor Leon Richards. “Our colleges have been invited to provide technical expertise in helping India set-up hundreds of community colleges in support of India’s vocational education and skills enhancement goals.”
“We’re also excited about the prospect of entering into a partnership with the University of Mumbai to provide educational opportunities worldwide for administrators, faculty, staff and students,” said Hawaiʻi CC Chancellor Noreen Yamane.
Mumbai University Pro-Vice Chancellor Naresh Chandra, Mumbai University Management Council Member A.P. Mahajan and Mumbai University Academic Council Member Sanyogita Morarji will tour Kapiʻolani CC’s programs in hotel operations and management, culinary arts, health sciences and business, as well as UH Mānoa’s School of Travel Industry Management and other programs.
