“It will help the children of Indian Diaspora to seek their roots and feel India while earning academic credits”

The New Jersey-based Organisation called IISAC (International Institute for Scientific and Academic Collaboration) has launched ‘a Semester in Kerala program’ for the American University students in the University of Kerala, Thiruvanathapuram.  Dr. Sunny Luke, Director, IISAC and Dr. Achuthsankar Nair of Kerala University are coordinating the program in Kerala. The first batch of the students hailing from the various universities of America started attending classes at the Kariavattom Campus of the University on 20th February, 2014.

Special highlights of the ‘Semester in Kerala’ program include: quality accommodation facility at Techno Park Guest House, study tour through Kerala and India, familiarising with Malayalam language, Kerala Studies, music, yoga, meditation, dance etc. Among around 500 subjects, the students can choose five and pursue their studies. Teaching Faculty who have expertise in the subjects concerned is specially designated to teach the students for the ‘Semester in Kerala’ program. The students who do major in any subject, and who follow Liberal Arts in the US universities can partake in the’ Semester in Kerala’. Accordingly, 15 credits, equivalent to that of the US universities, will be transferred. Admission is open during January and May (Spring) and August and December (Fall). Presently, students from Cornell, Grand Valley State, Michigan, St.Mary’s, College, Maryland etc. are doing the program in Thiruvananthapuram.  Kerala University has given special sanction to ‘the Semester in Kerala’ program, which in turn is approved by the Universities in the USA.

Talking about the dream project, the Executive Director of IISAC, Alex V. Koshy stated in New Jersey that ‘Semester in Kerala program would transmute into a journey to discover one’s own roots for the university students born to the Malayalee Diaspora.
IISAC’s collaborative ‘Semester in India’ program with American universities has been successfully progressing in the Universities of Pondicherry and KITT, Odisha. “We get not only 15 credits but also a life-changing experience through this semester program”, the alumni of IISAC observe.

These students make a comprehensive study of Kerala with the academic reference book Introduction to Kerala Studies in two volumes published by IISAC in 2012.
Celine Charath, PRO of IISAC informs that, based on the excellent track-record IISAC has obtained over the years, an innovative tour-cum-study program “Summer in Kerala” will be launched shortly for school students. This compact program will guide the second generation of the  Malayalee Diaspora to discover their own roots and identity. For more information: : akvilanilam@hotmail.com