US govt, Coursera launch free online course on ‘The Importance of India’

Each week of the course will explores one major theme related to India’s impact on the world, from India’s ancient trade relations with the Roman Empire to India’s rapidly growing startup ecosystem.

With the aim to educate about India’s impact on the world, Coursera, an open online course provider has launched a new course called ‘The Importance of India’.

The six week long self-paced course which starts on June 6th, 2016, and will be accessible to anyone with Internet access for free is being offered as part of the U.S. Department of State’s Passport to India Initiative.

Each week of the course will explores one major theme related to India’s impact on the world, from India’s ancient trade relations with the Roman Empire to India’s rapidly growing startup ecosystem. The course’s final week is dedicated to exploring study, internship, and startup business opportunities in India along with references and advice for how to get a start in India.

Passport to India was launched by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2011 to create a hub for U.S. – India higher education partnerships and to develop stronger bonds between the youth of both countries through increased American student mobility.

The initiative is being implemented jointly by The Ohio State University in the U.S. and IndoGenius in India, which worked together to produce and deliver the online course on Coursera. The course is taught by The Ohio State University University Prof. Brian D. Joseph along with Nick Booker, executive director of Passport to India & co-founder of IndoGenius.

According to Coursera, over 7,000 students around the world have already registered since the U.S. Ambassador to India – Richard R. Verma – announced that the course was open for enrollment earlier in the year.

“Last year, there were 130,000 Indian students in the United States – a record number reflecting record growth. However, at the same time, the number of American students in India remained relatively flat – 4,500. The United States Government’s Passport to India initiative is designed to encourage more American students to consider studying in India”, said Ambassador Richard R. Verma. “I am especially excited that this free online course will be delivered virtually and thus reach the maximum number of potential students.”

“American students of all backgrounds and interests need to learn about, from, with and in India,” commented course instructor Nick Booker, Executive Director of Passport to India. “Our MOOC demonstrates how India’s economic and civilization reemergence has renewed the importance of India. Take any of the grand challenges faced by the world today, and if you can innovate a solution that works in India, it can work anywhere.”