A beacon of international education

Aparna Rayaprol, a professor of sociology at the University of Hyderabad (UoH) has been invited, in her capacity as an expert on the internationalisation of education, to address a forum on “Australia-India Student Mobility —Experiences, Lessons and Transformations” at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia, on June 26 and 27.

“The forum is looking at student mobility in Australia and India. I have been invited to Deakin University because of my experience in international education and diaspora studies,” she says. Aparna has a doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh, USA, and a wide variety of academic interests including gender studies, the Indian diaspora, qualitative research methods and urban sociology. “I went to the USA to study on a Rotary International fellowship. I have been writing and publishing my works in international journals as well,” she says.

Aparna was instrumental in the establishment of the “Study in India” programme at UoH, and she has even been its director. Talking about some of the challenges she has faced, she says, “Major challenges have been in maintaining international standards in the Indian context and making sure that we are egalitarian without compromising on academic standards.” Colleagues, teachers, parents, and a supportive partner have been constant sources of inspiration and support along the way. “We can bring about a change in the classroom. I think India is a great destination for international education,” she concludes.