April 27: The United States Educational Foundation of India (USEFI) has expressed interest in having collaborations with city-based Omeo Kumar Das Institute of Social Change and Development (OKDISCD) for bringing Fulbright scholars to pursue research in the state.

This was stated by executive director of USEFI Jane E. Schukoske, who was in the city to hold discussions with the OKDISCD and get an overview of the various international efforts in the education sector in the region. The OKDISCD is sponsored by Assam government and the Indian Council of Social Science Research, New Delhi.

Schukoske said efforts were being made to send Americans to study in India and OKDISCD would be a perfect place as its research work and activities have been appreciated by academicians in the US.

“Many Fulbright scholars can come here to carry out research work in their areas of interest,” Schukoske, who had earlier taught at the School of Law, University of Baltimore, said.

Director of OKDISCD Abu Nasar Saied Ahmed, economist Jayanta Madhab and academicians of Gauhati University were present on the occasion.

Schukoske added that India sends more students to US than any other country.

She said environment could be a major area in which research could be carried out by scholars of both the countries.

Director of North Eastern Social Research Centre Walter Fernandes said immigration as a social problem in the Northeast could also be an area of research.

Participants said research and resource-sharing should be given top priority by the academic fraternity of both the countries.

The institute has set up a Centre for Northeast India, South and Southeast Asia Studies, which seeks to promote an understanding of Northeast India in the context of its trans-national neighbourhood with Southeast Asian countries such as Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Malaysia.

The centre’s work will focus on regional policy challenges — water resources, floods and cross-border movement.