Professor Dr Vinay Kumar Pathak in association with IIMSTC

Professor Dr. Vinay Kumar Pathak, the esteemed President of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and Vice Chancellor of Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur, has extended a significant invitation to Dr. Sreedhar Saraswathy to expand the “Diamond Beneath Your Feet” Internship Program to northern India. Recognizing the transformative impact the program has had in various parts of the country, Dr. Pathak’s request is a testament to its potential to uplift students through meaningful, skill-based international exposure. The AIU’s involvement marks a pivotal step toward mainstreaming such innovative academic-industrial collaborations within the traditional higher education framework of India.

The “Diamond Beneath Your Feet” initiative, spearheaded by Dr. Sreedhar Saraswathy and the International Institute of Medical Science & Technology Council (IIMSTC), aims to identify and nurture hidden talent among students by providing international internships and real-world experience. By encouraging its implementation in northern India, Dr. Pathak envisions empowering thousands of students across AIU-affiliated universities with global opportunities, thus bridging the gap between education and employability. This initiative aligns perfectly with the national objective of creating a future-ready, globally competent youth workforce.

Dr. Pathak’s endorsement not only underscores his vision for a more inclusive and dynamic academic ecosystem but also signals a new era of collaboration between reputed universities and forward-thinking organizations like IIMSTC. By integrating the strengths of academia, policy, and international partnerships, the expansion of this internship program could serve as a model for nationwide educational reform. As the program begins to take root in the northern heartlands of India, it holds the promise of discovering countless diamonds—brilliant young minds ready to shine on the global stage.