University of Greenwich “one of top destinations for Indians studying abroad”, Pro Vice-Chancellor Tells Delhi Audience
The British Council in Delhi welcomed over 100 alumni, newly recruited students and other guests of the University of Greenwich last night, at a reception hosted by the university’s Pro Vice-Chancellor Dr Margaret Noble.
Dr Noble said, “I am proud that the University of Greenwich is one of the top destinations for Indians studying abroad, in fact the second highest in the UK. A sixth of our students come from overseas, enriching the cultural and intellectual life of our student body.”
And she said the University of Greenwich was looking at an exciting future. Baroness Blackstone, former Education Minister in Tony Blair’s government, is Vice-Chancellor of the university, which has three campuses in stunning historic locations, 22,000 students and a strong record for both research and relevance to the job market.
Last night’s reception was one of three to launch alumni chapters (others are in Hyderabad and Kolkata) in response to the increasing numbers of Indian students now graduating from the university every year. These will provide a social and professional network for Greenwich graduates in India.
The university already has nearly a thousand alumni on its books and expects this to increase rapidly. In the academic year 2000/1 there were 13 students from India: in 2004/5 this number had jumped to 610. Numbers are expected to continue to grow strongly as the university offers relevant courses in business, engineering, pharmacy, ICT and many other areas.
First Indian President of the Students’ Union
In June Virender Choudhary, present at last night’s reception, made the headlines in the Chandigarh-based Tribune as ‘Village boy elected chief of Greenwich students’ union’. Coming from Bhojraj village in Haryana, Virender first came to the UK in 2004 to study a Masters in International Business at the University of Greenwich. He is now on a sabbatical year from studying for an International MBA, to take up the presidency.
He says he chose the University of Greenwich because he found the International Business masters course was relevant to him: “It has practical application, it’s not just theoretical. And you can complete the course in one year. It has lived up to my expectations. I’ve started to think outside the box, become more professional and much more methodical in my approach.” In terms of the social experience he says: “I find people very friendly. I haven’t had one bad experience. On the contrary, people have gone out of their way to be helpful.”
And he loves the international make-up of the students. From a total student population of over 20,000, 3,500 are from overseas. “You can meet the whole world in one place at Greenwich,” Virender says. “Basically I feel at home. And it’s very close – only eight and a half hours away.”
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