Pennsylvania-American Center for Education Opens in India to Assist Students Interested in Attending PA Colleges and Universities

HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Mumbai, with assistance from the Office of International Business Development (OIBD), will become the first city in India to have an educational facility dedicated to helping students and families learn about studying overseas in the United States.

Pennsylvania ranks sixth in the nation for the number of international students enrolled at higher education institutions – with Indian students accounting for more than 17 percent of the international student enrollment.

"This is an amazing opportunity, not only for the families in Mumbai with college-bound students, but also for Pennsylvania's higher education institutions," Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary C. Alan Walker said.  "To have the ability to connect directly with thousands of prospective students in India - one of Pennsylvania's fastest growing sources of international students - is priceless."

The Narsee Monjee Educational Trust – Jamnabai Narsee School has established the first ever education center in Mumbai, the Pennsylvania-American Center for Education, to help Indian students gain access to information about American colleges and universities. The center will celebrate its grand opening at the Jamnabai Narsee School in Mumbai on September 21, 2012. Representatives from the City of Philadelphia, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the United States Consulate in Mumbai will be in attendance.

Many Indian families explore international educational opportunities for their children in Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States. The primary obstacles that families encounter are a lack of accessible information on the universities/colleges and an understanding of international application/admissions processes. As a result, many families hire education agents who charge exorbitant rates, as high as 10,000 U.S. dollars per student, to provide information on schools in other countries.

The Pennsylvania-American Center for Education will send counselors for training in Pennsylvania and will expect them to meet with universities and colleges to learn about the programs and opportunities in Philadelphia and across the commonwealth.  To gain access to the information and services offered by the center, families and students will pay a nominal fee - capped at 3 U.S. dollars.

The City of Philadelphia's Honorary Ambassador to India, Kanika Choudhary, was instrumental in the development of this new center. Working with Philadelphia officials, Ambassador Choudhary spent the past two years promoting educational opportunities, identifying potential economic partnerships, and encouraging Indians to visit Philadelphia and Pennsylvania for business, leisure and educational pursuits.     

"Pennsylvania was one of the first states in the U.S. to open an official office in India to promote the trade and investment opportunities," Ambassador Choudhary said. "Now we are proud to have a dedicated facility that will provide Indian families with information about studying at Pennsylvania's world-class educational institutions."

The Pennsylvania's Office of International Business Development (OIBD) opened an office in Bangalore, India in 2001 to promote trade and investment with the commonwealth. Pennsylvania's Authorized Representatives, Sushama and Supriya Kanetkar, provide export assistance to Pennsylvania companies looking to sell goods and services in the Indian market and promote Pennsylvania to Indian companies looking to set up operations in the United States. There are currently 49 Indian companies invested in Pennsylvania employing more than 2,400 people. 

For more information about the Narsee Monjee Educational Trust – Jamnabai Narsee School Office, visit www.jns.ac.in.

To learn more about the Office of International Business Development, visit www.newPA.com or call 1-866-466-3972.

Media contact: Theresa Elliott, DCED, 717-783-1132

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development