College increases international outreach efforts, hosts Indian professors to observe academic culture

DETROIT (April 25, 2012) - Five engineering and business faculty members from the North West Institute of Engineering and Technology in Dhudike, India, recently visited the Wayne State University College of Engineering for a month to observe the college's academic culture.

According to Shaamir Mallah, assistant professor of business administration at the institute, the professors were impressed with the practical approach to teaching and research conducted at the College of Engineering, as well as the level of student motivation and the implementation of technology in the classroom and laboratory facilities.

"Our institution, which was founded in 2008, is fairly new," Mallah said. "We found that our visit provided us with ideas and inspiration to consider as we become more established."

While in Detroit they stayed on campus in the Chatsworth Tower apartments and visited local attractions such as the Detroit Institute of Arts.

The experience also proved beneficial to Wayne State faculty members.

"The visiting faculty from North West Institute of Engineering and Technology provided many useful interactions as we exchanged ideas about teaching, learning and the use of modern technology," said Trilochan Singh, professor of mechanical engineering.

Both the visiting professors and Singh hope for future collaborations, such as encouraging students from the institute to apply for graduate programs at Wayne State. "Hopefully this leads to even more productive relationships and the possible exchange of students and other faculty," Singh said.

PHOTO: (left to right) Vikas Arora, electronics and communication engineering assistant professor and department head; Rishideep Singh, information technology assistant professor and department head; Jagatjit Singh Sekhon, computer science and engineering assistant professor and department head; Farshad Fotouhi, Wayne State University College of Engineering dean; Shaamir Mallah, business administration assistant professor; Rakesh Kumar, mechanical engineering assistant professor and department head; and Trilochan Singh, professor of mechanical engineering at Wayne State University.

# # #

Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution of higher education offering more than 400 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 32,000 students. For more information about engineering at Wayne State University, visit engineering.wayne.edu.