With multiple Memoranda of Understanding under its belt, SI(DU) offers its students numerous opportunities to collaborate and study abroad for a single semester. Although competitive, this program consistently witnesses a high number of applicants every semester. SSLA sends at least 3 students to different universities around the world every semester to study the courses of their choice. The credits the students attain whilst studying abroad, are then transferred to SSLA with approval from SCIE (Symbiosis Centre for International Education), further permitting students to map their courses and the equivalent credits.
SSLA additionally maintains a long standing relationship with Bournemouth University (Dorset), and DePaul University (Chicago), which has materialized into summer school programs held in both campuses. To illustrate, Bournemouth University in collaboration with SSLA, conducted an intercultural experience under the Global Cultural Immersion Program, where students from both universities participated in an exchange to experience student life in the respective countries, as well as discuss and exchange ideas and cultural experiences.
Within the roster of SI(DU)’s partner universities, a few universities offer scholarship opportunities to our students. A number of our students have also participated on international exchanges through the OIN Exchange Program (Ontario-India Exchange Program), which is a full scholarship exchange program, that allows students to explore an intercultural exchange with Canada.
To apply for an exchange opportunity, the students are expected to adhere to the following criteria:
Alongside this criteria, the students are also required to submit their grade sheets from previous semesters, as well as a statement of purpose entailing their reasons for applying for the exchange opportunity.
Under this initiative, the Symbiosis International University ( SI(DU) ) students get an opportunity to Study Abroad for a semester at the University, of their choice. To facilitate the Student mobility, SI(DU) has the Floating credit semester, which allows students to undertake subjects of their choice, and so mapping of the actual course content is not required. This facilitates the students to undertake subjects other than their current courses structure as well.
SI(DU) has collaborations through various Universities across the globe and has signed a Memorandum of understanding with them. This gives the SI(DU) students an opportunity to study at the host university - with mutual recognition of the credit hours arising there - allowing the ease of credit transfers. The SI(DU) students also can get the benefit of tuition waivers.
The SI(DU) students attend summer schools which usually last for two to four weeks in duration and are normally held in spring or summer or winter. The program facilitates visits by students and faculty to learn about the culture of the respective countries, the business environment, global issues, finance, art and many such topics. They also get the benefit of credit transfers for the Summer/Winter schools.
Symbiosis International University also encourages students from partner universities across the world through the Semester exchanges to come and study here. We also look forward to students from different universities who are not our partners as free moving students to study at SI(DU) .
These students can spend one to two semesters studying the subjects of their choice for which the credits can be transferred back to their home University.
An outgoing program can either be a Semester Exchange or a Semester Abroad. Under Semester Exchange, SI(DU) has tie ups with various universities across the globe. On the other hand, Semester Abroad can be in association with any university, regardless of whether it has a tie up with SI(DU) . The student, however manages the process (with some assistance from the International Cell) and bears the extra monetary burden. Based on the courses that one wants to pursue, they apply to the college that best fits their requirements.
Symbiosis Center for International Education (SCIE), is a central department created to cater to the needs of the large number of international students studying at Symbiosis. It fits into Symbiosis’ vision of internationalization, and ensures the implementation of this vision by providing a common platform for all international students studying at Symbiosis to voice their administrative, as well as adaptability problems. SCIE also organizes multiple conferences, seminars, and workshops for all students of Symbiosis on the topic of internationalization, and cross-cultural sensitivity.
The International Cell at SSLA works closely with SCIE, to implement the programs envisioned by them at SSLA. Their job is to carry forward their vision into the corridors of SSLA, and ensure that the student body has the right exposure to the international community. Although SCIE is the main administrative authority in Symbiosis, SSLA’s International Cell acts as a mediator between the incoming and outgoing students at SSLA and SCIE. This makes it easier for the students of SSLA, because they do not have to travel to the SCIE office on SB Road every time they have a query.
SCIE initiatives that SSLA is a part of:
Symbiosis International (Deemed University) has partnered with the following universities to promote various forms of academic collaborations. The educational cooperation proposed through these collaborations concentrates on areas of joint research programs, student and faculty exchange, academic assistance for doctoral research students, cultural exchange, and summer schools.
Memorandum Of Understanding [MOU] List:
http://scie.ac.in/initiatives/collaborations/
Richard Mannariono from SUNY Albany, USA.
“My experience in India has been nothing short of revolutionary so far. Spending four months in a foreign country has been a challenge- testing my adaptability to changes and forcing myself to get out of my comfort zone. I am very grateful to be able to call a place, like India, home.”
Zahin Hussain
"I chose SSLA because I was looking for a chance to explore the liberal arts in an interactive classroom. In Canada, the arts are packed into 400-odd auditoriums to receive instruction from a professor who does not know my name. SSLA gave me intimate exposure to experts in their appropriate fields. It is important for students to gain the full exposure over a 4-year degree program, as they have little opportunity before university, to explore the field of the arts. The breadth and depth of information available in the liberal arts, requires time and an adequate framework for students to develop the appropriate repertoire of knowledge."
Harsh Agarwal
“In my fifth semester, I went to King’s University College at Western University in Canada. Those five months of my time abroad gave me so much freedom to do what I wanted to do. I made new friends for life, took road trips in the United States of America and Canada, stayed with strangers who later became friends forever, crashed at various friends’ houses in nine different cities, planted garlic at an organic farm in Quebec, attended a lecture at MIT, ate egg for the first time, tried my hand at 3D printing, crossed countries for the first time by road, watched a Broadway show, hitchhiked at 2am, and tried a lot of new food. These five months gave me space to fly, crawl, run, walk, and everything in-between; to just evolve and become a different me.”
Ananya Gouthi
“In my fourth semester, I went to Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia, for what were definitely some of the best months of my life. Alongside the challenging and unfamiliar academic exposure, I developed as a person - more independent, confident, and curious since. I had the opportunity to catch plays, visit museums and exhibitions, go snorkelling, explore mountains and beaches, devour new cuisines, and forge some great friendships.”
Hana Masood
“In my fifth semester, I went on a semester exchange programme to King's University College in London, Ontario, Canada. Little did I know that my whim to travel would culminate into one of the most exciting learning experiences of my life. Not only was I able to learn my subjects from a whole new perspective, I made good friends (and therefore houses to crash at!) from every continent and learned as much as I could about their culture and beliefs. King’s being a very inclusive environment, a few of my classmates were elderly students or students with disabilities, and watching their lives merge so peacefully and happily with ours was a very heart-warming experience. During my four months, I tried as many new activities as possible. I carved my first pumpkin, spent Halloween night at an amusement park, played life-sized Jenga, watched a lovely performance by a church choir, and most importantly, experienced my first ever snowfall (and even broke my arm after slipping on ice!). I visited my brothers in Toronto and Calgary, and this being my first trip to Calgary, I was mesmerised by the beauty of the Rockies in Banff and at Lake Louise - definitely a highlight of my trip. On my way, back, I stopped over in New York City for a few days, which was also a blast. All in all, I had a fantastic time on my exchange programme and would do it all again in a heartbeat!”
Manal Bole
“If I had to give a word for what this semester exchange experience was for me, it would be 'necessary'. The reason I chose that word is based on all the realms of changes I went through, both personally and professionally during the exchange. Not only did I live my dream and play for a second division women's Spanish club, but also managed to watch an El Clasico, live. Apart from my passion for football, my desires for travelling, learning new languages, and just experiencing new things, were very well nurtured. This exchange has brought changes in me, which my friends, parents or I, could never imagine to be possible. Being more responsible, punctual, and disciplined, is a lesson I could have only picked up through this experience. Furthermore, the endless travelling makes one ponder about the real problems, and thus, complaining about petty things has been completely eradicated from my personality. I'd recommend each and every person to go for a semester abroad whenever possible, and am extremely thankful to SSLA for this opportunity!”
Aishwarya Pawar
“I went to Berlin School of Economics and Law in my 4th semester. This strange new place had graffiti for paint. Not just that, but there was freedom in how people dressed, expressed, worked, and thought. Besides the excellent academic exposure, learning modern dance and Ballet in the land of ‘Pina Bausch’ was a dream come true. Amidst dancing to Punjabi songs in the Berlin parade, making friends eat the spiciest butter chicken, and adjusting to “stay to the right on the escalators”, I found a comfortable corner of people. After a while, I realised, everyone was as excited, nervous, and scared as I was. From meeting solo young travellers, to having dance faceoffs in bars, to making new friends, I found that places are not that different and neither are the people. Hence, I now call this place my home.”
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