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NT Bureau
Chennai, Sept 8:
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of Meenakshi University in Chennai yesterday. Meenakshi University Chancellor A N Radhakrishnan and State Health Minister KKSSR Ramachandran are among those present. |
The number of Indian students pursuing education in America has doubled in the last 10 years, David T Hopper, Consul-General of the American Consulate has said.
Delivering the first convocation address of the Meenakshi University here yesterday, Hopper said of the 5.65 lakh foreign students in the US, 76,505 students are from India. The number has doubled from 37,000 students in 1999, he added.
Stressing the importance of establishing linkages between American and Indian Universities, Hopper said it would enhance the ties between the two countries in the field of education.
He highlighted the major role played by Indian Americans in the field of medicine, science and technology to help build a strong US economy.
State Health Minister K K S S R Ramachandran after distributing the degrees said that the DMK government has been taking steps to create employment opportunities to young graduates in the State.
He noted that the appointment orders were issued to 2,500 doctors and 3,000 nurses in the last one year.
The Minister also complimented the Meenakshi Ammal Dental College for being a centre of excellence and a model dental college with an 'A' grade accreditation by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council of India, an autonomous body under the University Grants Commission.
State Electricity Minister Arcot N Veerasamy presented 15 medals for academic excellence to candidates from Departments of dental, nursing, physiotherapy and health sciences.
Meenakshi University Chancellor A N Radhakrishnan conferred the Doctoral degree of honoris causa on Professor Herman F Sailer for his contribution to the field of dentistry and medicine and on Erica Brigitte Schwob for her humanitarian activities.
Meenakshi University Vice-Chancellor
E Munirathnam Naidu and Registrar of Academic activities Sivapathasundharam
also spoke on the occasion.