Students and faculty in the Asian and Middle Eastern studies and women and gender studies departments have been working to form a Foreign Study Program to India. The new FSP is still in the planning stages, which began last fall, and is expected to run its first term in 2010. Although the exact location of the FSP is to be determined, the cities of Hyderabad and Pune are being considered as options.
This summer, Dartmouth faculty members will be going to India to do more research into the feasibility of the FSP. Most of the planning will be done during the 2007-2008 academic year, according to history professor Doug Haynes, who is working with AMES to establish the FSP.
"It's a little different from other programs in that Asian and Middle Eastern Studies and Women and Gender Studies are joining in on this initiative," said Sachin Gokal '10, the student representative to the Pan Asian Council. The FSP will allow students access to a culture that many feel demands more academic recognition.
"It is very important for individuals in America to understand the economic reality in India because of the way it affects us today, through trade and technology," Gokal said.
According to Gokal, research done in the fall found that most other Ivy League institutions offer Indian study abroad programs or support study programs in India run by other institutions.
"We're very happy that the administration is finally acknowledging that South Asian studies are important to have on campus and that the Indian study abroad program is a necessity," Gokal said.
According to PAC member Dru Sil '09, the possibility of forming an India FSP or LSA has been sustained by student interest for a while, brought up in the past by the student group Milan.
"Since PAC took up the cause and had the resource of PAC Advisor Nora Yasumura, the initiative really took off," Sil said.
PAC, along with the faculty members from AMES and WGS who are involved in forming the new FSP, held pilot meetings in the fall gauging the interest of students involved in the AMES and WGS programs in continuing Indian studies and beginning an India FSP. Sachin noted that students expressed excitement for the new program, which prompted students and faculty to draw an official proposal for the FSP, although it is not yet complete. The process to establish a new FSP, however, takes years, and requires administrative review and support.
Haynes said that an FSP to India is one component of a larger initiative to bring more South Asian studies programs to Dartmouth.
"There have been two parallel tracks, one being the FSP and the other being different academic programs regarding South Asian studies," Haynes explained.
"We're certainly hoping to enhance the offerings on South Asian studies through this foreign study program," he said.
