Nine UK students get business scholarships to India

LONDON: Nine students, including seven from prestigious Oxford university, have been selected for the inaugural UK-India business scholarship programme that has been instituted to create a new generation of ambassadors to build trade relationships between the two countries.

The scholarships will give students the opportunity to spend eight weeks working with leading companies based in India, including multinationals such as HSBC, ICICI and KPMG.

The UK-India Business Council (UKIBC), a government sponsored body entrusted with representing business needs to enhance bilateral trade and investment between the UK and India, awarded scholarships to seven students from Oxford and two from Cardiff University.

Out of the seven students from Oxford, six are from the university's Saod Business School.

"We are delighted to be involved in this excellent initiative which provides an extraordinary opportunity for students," Owen Darbishire, Dean of Undergraduate Programmes at the Saod Business School, said.

"It also perfectly aligns with the goals of the Oxford University India Business Centre which is designed to ensure that we share ideas and learn from the many innovative business practices in India" Darbishire said.

Speaking about this unique initiative, chief executive of UKIBC Sharon Bamford said it will strengthen trade and investment ties between India and the UK.

"This exchange will strengthen our aim to position modern India in the minds of the next generation and also strengthen the business, trade and investment ties between India and the UK," Bamford said.