MSU BBA eyes foreign students, sends mailers to embassies

VADODARA: From preparing a presentation on CDs to designing an attractive prospectus, officials from BBA programme of MS University (MSU) are leaving no stone unturned to attract foreign students with Indian origin.
For the first time, the management has sent CDs and prospectus to 58 foreign embassy offices in New Delhi to attract students from African, Asian and Gulf countries.
At present, there are 18 seats reserved for foreign students over and above regular 180 seats. Last year, BBA management received only three applications for the reserved category. This year, too, it has received three queries.
"There is awareness about our programme at the state level, but not many foreign students are aware about it. This year, thus, we have sent CDs along with prospectus to offices of foreign embassies in New Delhi. We are looking at attracting students in African, Asian and Gulf countries," said BBA associate programme director Kalpesh Shah.
Shah also added that they might not get immediate response from the students this year itself. "We decided to send details to embassies, as this would help in making aspirants aware about programme. After sending details, two to three officials from the embassies contacted us for further details," Shah said.
MSU has been selected among few varsities in the country where students from war-torn Afghanistan can apply for higher education as part of Government of India's (GoI) initiative in reconstruction and rehabilitation of Afghanistan. The applications are rooted through Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) from ministry of human resource development.
"We received a communication from ICCR hinting at the interest shown by Afghan students in pursuing BBA in India. They wanted to know whether these applicants meet the eligibility criteria for our programme. We have sent our reply along with an information brochure to ICCR," Shah shared.
While the management is making effort to attract foreign students, the number of applicants for 180 seats seemed to be heading southwards since last year.
"We have received 1,320 applications and within a week we hope to cross the 1,400-mark. The number of applications has not dipped further this year. We are working towards bringing about some changes in coming few years to make this programme a lucrative option over the ones offered by other colleges in the state," Shah said.