First batch of TN profs, students to leave for UK

The first batch of professors and students of state-run colleges, selected under Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's new initiative to expose them to international standards of education, will leave for the UK, for integrated training and joint research in Universities there.
A total of three professors and 14 students, selected after many rounds of selection, would leave in batches today and on September 21. They will visit Edge Hill University, University of Nottingham, Royal Holloway University and University of Birmingham, an official release said.
The selected professors and students met Jayalalithaa at the secretariat yesterday, it said.
Tamil Nadu government had signed a pact with the British Council for sending students and teachers hailing from the state to reputed foreign institutions for integrated training and joint research.

An MoU was signed to this effect between the Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education and British Council in December last year.
All the selected students from state-run colleges, would be sent to study for one semester to a foreign institute in 2013 and a sum of Rs 15 lakh for each them had been approved by the Chief Minister through the Council.
Higher Education Minister, state Chief Secretary, British Council Director Paul Sellers, Higher Education Principal Secretary and British Council Divisional Officer L Dhanasekharan were also present.