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Students from various African
countries at the Punjab College of Technical Education at
Buddowal near Ludhiana in Punjab (with an Indian faculty
member). |
Ludhiana: Dulce
Vania from Mozambique is studying for a management degree in India
and is also a budding entrepreneur - she exports human hair to her
homeland.
"I have stated a small-scale human hair export business. Back
home, it is used for making various accessories," Vania told IANS.
Studying for a management course in finance from the Punjab
College of Technical Education (PCTE) at Baddowal, close to the
industrial hub of Ludhiana, Vania says that African students
studying in India are trying to pick up entrepreneurial skills.
"Things back in our country have started to get better, but it
still needs a lot of improvement. Some students here have started
to work on small-scale," she said.
Ugandan Ilahi Marian is a pharmacy student at the PCTE. She hopes
to open a well-equipped drug store back home to help enhance the
health facilities there.
"There are only 10 multi-specialty hospitals in the whole of
Uganda as far as I know. There is an urgent need to enhance the
health sector as for every 1,000 people, there is just one
doctor," Marian told IANS.
African students find it cheaper to study in India - and that too
in a system that is better than in their own countries.
"In India, people make things simple for us to understand. In our
country, we are taught in a very complicated manner. Also, Indian
teachers are very affectionate and devote a lot of time to us,"
said Adam Semlambo of Tanzania, studying for a masters in computer
applications course.
His countryman, Ummi Marealle, a student of management in
international business at PCTE, concurs.
"The quality of education in India is much better than in other
places. Staying in Ludhiana, thanks to industries like Vardhman,
Oswal, Hero group and others, we get a lot of industrial
exposure," Marealle added.
According to J.S. Juneja, a former president of the All India
Management Association (AIMA), India is a role model for African
students.
"Nearly 15,000 students from Africa are studying in India. India
and African countries have a similar history. India has a well
developed educational system. We also have a well-developed
small-scale industries sector. Africa needs both and thus,
Africans look at our country as their role model," Juneja told
IANS.
(Japjeet Duggal can be contacted at japjeetd@gmail.com)
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