Roland, Completely agree with you about the name Roland J I didn't quite get the point(s) you are trying to address on this topic, but let me clarify the ones I think I did understand you are making. RM: In your argument, you have stated several reasons why students in Goa should consider being part of the exchange to visit Ontario, but you have not provided compelling reasons why the opposite should occur - Canadians going on exchange to see Goa. Comment: Frankly, what benefits do you think Ontario students would get from going on an exchange program to the Goa or Maharashtra Unis that are participating. I don't mean to denigrate those schools but their standards would not meet those found in Ontario. I am talking of more than academic standards here. I am sure Ontarians would benefit from some of the better IITs in India which are world class in academics but these have not participated. RM: I believe the primary reason why the OMG program has not taken off is because a lack of awareness and application to the appropriate demographic. The OMG program was marketed several years and its promotion campaign needs a rejuvenation. Furthermore, in my personal opinion, an extremely small proportion of Goans in its Diasporas can strongly consider the program. Comment: The program is well known in the participating Ontario Unis. If it is not properly marketed in the Goa-Maha schools, then they ought to do something about it. The program is not meant for the Goan diasporas. It is specifically targeted towards participating Goa and Maharashtra local students. RM: If they (Goans) do look at exchanges, they are looking at universities that tend to be English-speaking and are internationally accredited (i.e. University College London, Trinity College, Bocconi University or if they're lucky Cambridge). Comment: The question is do the Unis you have mentioned have exchange programs with Goa? Also, how many Goa students have found their places with these Unis. RM: when is the last time you have heard a Westerner taking about world-class universities such as Tokyo University, Australian National University, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Universite Pierre et Marie Curie, University of Copenhagen, Karolinska Institute, or Utrecht University? Comment: Why should Canadian Universities care about these universities and vice-versa? To each his own. All that these Canadian universities are trying to do is to give an opportunity to Goa-Maha students to study in a Canadian environment. 1) They provide liberal scholarships and bursaries to cover visa fees, airfare and other incidental expenses that might hinder the Goan student from availing of this program. 2) They allow Goan students to pay their fees to their Goa institutions and for that offer them the value of a Canadian education. 3) These fees do not go to Canada but are retained by Goa. In view of all the above, I fail to see what you have against the program. Roland Francis
