Understanding U.S. Foreign Policy and U.S.-India Relations

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Executive Summary: Based on funding availability, this project aims at promoting understanding of U.S. foreign policy and U.S.-India ties among at least 100 university students in north Indian states through a Massive Online Open Course (MOOC). The grantee will finalize the course, in consultation with the North India Office (NIO) and at least one faculty advisor in each state, and then administer the course to at least 15 students each from Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and the Union Territory (UT) of Chandigarh. The grantee will also create an online platform or website to make the course available to future interested parties, post final essays from students who participated in the MOOC on U.S.-India ties, and maintain the website as a place to exchange resources and ideas for American Studies and U.S.-India relations for a period of at least two years. Background: Relations between the United States and India have grown in leaps and bounds in recent years, becoming what one U.S. President called a “defining partnership for the 21 st century.”  India does more trade, more military exercises, and sends more students to universities in the United States than any other country in the world.  Yet, the study of the United States remains comparatively underdeveloped in Indian universities and think tanks. The Embassy is aware of only scattered courses on various aspects of U.S. culture and history, but few dedicated departments of American Studies or courses on U.S.-India relations. The Embassy’s public affairs section (PAS) in 2010 released a handbook of curriculum and pedagogy to run a multi-disciplinary American studies program at universities to strengthen and promote American Studies in India. The handbook was prepared by prominent American Studies professionals and academics across India through regional workshops. The handbook can be accessed at: https://photos.state.gov/libraries/india/13974/libpdfs/American Studies Booklet Bookformat.pdf . (Please refer to the full announcement available under 'related documents' tab.)

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