We have a exciting press statement to share with the local Southampton community!
UK Elite Sports Group and Manav Rachna along with Havant & South Downs College delegates, worked out the details of the upcoming Sports and Cultural Student Exchange Programme, set for early next year.
To forge the path for cultural exchange between UK and India, the delegates led by Chief Operating Officer Lakbir Singh at UK Elite Sports Group and Havant & South Downs College, (HSDC) visited Manav Rachna Educational Institutions in Faridabad.
The esteemed delegates from UKESG and HSDC included Mr. Lakbir Singh - Chief Operating Officer, UKESG; Mr. Aaron Butson - Director of International Programmes, HSDC, and Ms. Bobbie Crown - Educational Visit Coordinator, HSDC.
The primary objective of this visit was to lay the groundwork for an upcoming student exchange programme, scheduled early next year being facilitated by UKESG with their trusted educational institutional partner Manav Rachna. This initiative aligns perfectly with the Turing Scheme, a prestigious international mobility grant programme initiated by the UK government. The Turing Scheme aims to provide students with invaluable opportunities for international education and training, embodying the UK government's commitment to fostering global learning experiences.
The upcoming student tour promises students an immersive experience that seamlessly blends the worlds of sports, culture, and the vibrant essence of India. Participants will have the unique opportunity to engage in exhilarant sports activities that reflect the flavour of the nation and immerse themselves in the intricate tapestry of Indian traditions and customs.
During the recent visit delegates experienced an immersive introduction to the vibrant Manav Rachna spirit. The visit proved to be an engaging, enriching, and informative exchange, an invaluable opportunity for mutual learning. The delegates not only witnessed the outstanding facilities and capacities at the Manav Rachna Campus but also embarked on an unforgettable tour to the majestic Taj Mahal, a symbol of India's rich history and culture.
This visit comes after a sports & cultural exchange programme where a group of 20 enthusiastic young students from MRIS Mohali and MRIS Ludhiana, Punjab, India came on an extraordinary 8-day journey in the UK, experiencing a blend of excitement, learning, and invaluable life experiences, facilitated by UKESG in July 2023, at the Peter Ashley Activity Centre.
Lakbir Singh, Chief Operating Officer, UK Elite Sports Group (UKESG) said: “During our recent UKESG visit to India, we were delighted to be advising and facilitating Havant and South Downs College in Hampshire, UK for their 2023/2024 Turing Scheme programme to our trusted India partner Manav Rachna Educational Institutions. We met with colleagues from across the group, for pre-planning meetings in which we viewed all the facilities, accommodation and conducted workshops with relevant faculty members to formalise the mobilities programme. Given our expertise and guidance, we are co-developing the itinerary with learning outcomes to assist young students with skills development, cultural immersion, capacity strengthening, knowledge exchange and offering life changing opportunities, whilst studying abroad. We conducted risk assessments at the Taj Mahal, Temples, shopping malls and other iconic sites in New Delhi. In addition, we facilitated high level engagement with in-country partners and government stakeholders. UKESG is pleased to offer advisory services for the Turning Scheme with trusted educational partners in India to strengthen UK/India educational, sports and cultural trade and relationships. The upcoming student tour will be transformative with learning opportunity for both HSDC and Manav Rachna students, leveraging the state-of-the-art sports infrastructure to gain meaningful connections and make lifelong memories”.
Dr. Amit Bhalla, Vice President, MREI expressed his views about this recent visit, quoting, “Sports is an integral part of a child’s overall development and at Manav Rachna, every sport is fostered with the same zeal and our sole mission is to make sports accessible to all. We appreciate this visit facilitated by our UK partners UKESG and are pleased to will build a path for the future student exchange.”
