Journey to the Indian Institute for Foreign Trade

Yesterday morning we headed to the Indian Institute for Foreign Trade in New Delhi. It is a lovely school offering graduate degrees, executive education and research opportunities in New Delhi and other parts of the world. IIFT Web Site.  We first met Dr. Stinder Bhatia, Chairperson of Graduate Studies. We then had an opportunity to see a beautiful video overview of the Institute, share some information about St. Ambrose, and explore possibilities regarding student and faculty exchanges and research opportunities. It was a very good conversation. One faculty member, Deepak Bhatnagar, is Head of the Centre for International Trade in Technology. He will be in the U.S. in coming months, and may be able to spend a few days on our campus, as he will already be in the general area.

We then spoke to a group of students. Sister Joan did a great job making an introduction and providing background of the university. I didn't know we would have a chance to present our short PowerPoint overview, but ended up searching for it, all on the big screen, while Sister Joan was speaking, There was a little chuckle from the room when I clicked my "India" file on the flash drive and up popped a copy of my drivers license, scanned in as part of the visa application process. Then I found a slide presentation further down the list, and began talking. If only it had been the one I planned to use here in India, it would have been better. But, flexibility in international travel is a must, I guess. So the slides were about the COB and St. Ambrose, so off I went.

Then Arun did a wonderful job explaining the American Business Experience, a 4-week opportunity this summer at SAU. The Summer 2011 American Business Experience at St. Ambrose.  At first the students were a bit quiet, then got more animated as Arun asked them a series of questions. Of course, it didn't hurt that this is Arun's alma mater. Students wanted to know about his own experience once he graduated in 1989. After class dismissed Arun was met by 6 students who wanted to know more. Who knows where this might lead -- possibly to good things for all involved.