United States, India expand collaboration in education with launch of Women in STEMM Fellowship

The fellowship will see a partnership between John Hopkins University Gupta-Klinsky India Institute and the U.S.-India Alliance for Women’s Economic Empowerment. 

It is aimed at supporting and empowering early-career women scientists and researchers in India to become leaders in their STEMM fields. 

Highlighting the release of the latest Open Doors Report, U.S. Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti announced that for the first time since 2009, India sent more students to the United States than any other country. 

More than 330,000 Indians pursued higher education in the United States in 2023/2024, a 23 percent increase over the prior year.   

The Open Doors report highlights significant growth across various levels: 

·      Graduate Enrollment: India retained its position as the top sender of international graduate students for the second year, with nearly 197,000 students—a 19 percent increase from last year.

·      Optional Practical Training (OPT): The number of Indian students in OPT programs surged by 41 percent to 97,556, reinforcing India’s role as a leading source of skilled professionals in the United States.

·      Undergraduate Enrollment: Undergraduate numbers from India rose by 13 percent, reaching over 36,000 students.

These increases underscore India’s upward trajectory in U.S. higher education over the past two years, fueled by a strong interest in advanced academic and professional opportunities. 

This year’s Open Doors Report also shows a 300 percent increase in American students choosing India as a study abroad destination.  The number of Americans studying in India rose from 300 to 1,300 in 2022/2023.

The release of the Open Doors Report marks the beginning of International Education Week (IEW) which celebrates the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. 

Speaking at the STEMM launch event, Ambassador Garcetti said, “Today we gather to launch the ‘Women in STEM Development and Medicine Fellowship’ -- or the ‘Women in STEMM India Fellowship’ -- an initiative of the U.S.- India Alliance for Women's Economic Empowerment led by the Gupta-Klinsky India Institute at Johns Hopkins University.” 

“This event is a reminder of the global importance of education, collaboration, and gender equity in shaping the future of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM),” he said. 

“The launch of the ‘Woman in STEMM Fellowship’ coinciding with International Education Week makes this moment particularly meaningful and more special.  Today marks the celebration of the shared belief that education is not confined by borders, and that collaboration between our countries and institutions is the key to solving global challenges,” he said. 

Johns Hopkins University President Ronald J. Daniels said: “At Johns Hopkins University, we believe that empowering women in STEMM is essential for advancing global innovation.” 

“The ‘Women in STEMM Fellowship’, launched in partnership with the U.S. State Department, is designed to help Indian women scientists gain critical research skills, access mentors, and connect with global networks,” he said. 

The U.S. Consulate General Mumbai and the University of Denver will soon launch a free 'Digital Guide on Internationalization: Simplifying U.S.-India Higher Education Institution (HEI) Collaboration and Partnerships'.