University on Indian Sub-Continent Mission

The trip will be led by the University’s Chancellor, the Rt Hon Lord Paul of Marylebone PC and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Geoff Layer.

It will involve meeting with education providers, representatives of Government, business and investment bodies and Alumni of the University.

In India the delegation will be visiting Delhi, where the University’s South East Asia Regional Office is based.

The trip will include a visit to a local school, meetings with UKTI (UK Trade and Investment) and an event hosted by the British Council in Delhi celebrating the links between Wolverhampton and India.

In Bangladesh meetings will be held with Government officials, the British Council and the Federal Chamber of Commerce in Dhaka.

There will also be an event held for University of Wolverhampton Alumni and senior civil servants who have taken part in a training programme to deliver government reforms.

The last leg will take in Nepal and will involve a visit to Kathmandu University and the British Council and will culminate with an event celebrating 30 years of the University’s Centre for International Development Training (CIDT) in the country.

University of Wolverhampton Chancellor, the Rt Hon Lord Paul of Marylebone PC, said: “The trip is all about strengthening existing relationships between the University, Wolverhampton and the Black Country and the Indian Sub-Continent.

“Our ties with this area of the world are good and it is important to emphasise the importance of international students and how we can work even more closely with businesses in this part of the world.

“The University of Wolverhampton offers a great education and access to world class research and we can help provide opportunities to develop a skilled workforce for years to come in these countries.”

Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Geoff Layer said: “We are the University of the Black Country but it is also important that we have an outlook as a global University.

“Just looking at our India connections we have more than 2,000 graduates from India alone and they add to the rich cultural mix and economy of our region when are with us. “Some of our esteemed honorary graduates include the current president, the Honourable Shri Pranab Mukherjee.

“Education can change and improve people’s lives and we think it is vital that we seek to work with partners around the world to share knowledge, best practice and build a culture of lifelong learning.”

The trip takes place between 6 April and 13 April 2013.

Further information

For more information please contact James Allen in the Media Relations Office on 01902 322003

Date Issued: Friday 5 April 2013