Discover Studying Abroad

Here's your chance to meet with top faculty from Arizona State University

Senior faculty and officials from ASU and its engineering school will visit several Indian cities to provide information and answer questions. Find out how to register for a free session near you!

BY Braingain Staff Writer | 30-03-2017

Nithya Subramanian (center) developed a love for aviation at a young age. Now pursuing a doctoral degree in aerospace engineering at Arizona State University, Subramanian was named an Amelia Earhart Fellow by Zonta International in recognition of her work on multifunctional nanocomposites for aerospace applications. Subramanian works in the lab of ASU professor Aditi Chattopadhyay, on the left. (Photo: Jessica Hochreiter/ASU)

Representatives from Arizona State University (ASU) and the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering are coming to India to meet with students interested in furthering their education and career. At five receptions, to be held in different cities between April 1 and April 8, students will have the chance to learn about what ASU offers students, and get answers to their questions about studying there. The sessions are free, but advance registration is required. If you wish to attend a session near you, you need to register by Friday, March 31.

ASU has been ranked #1 in innovation – ahead of Stanford University and MIT – for the second consecutive year, the US News & World Report. It is a leader in student entrepreneurship and engineering, and is continually offering degrees in emerging fields. It also ranks highly in surveys on undergraduate education, and on the employability of its graduates.

Dr Tirupalavanam G. Ganesh, Assistant Dean of Engineering Education & Associate Research Professor of Engineering Education, told BrainGain Magazine in an email interview, “The strength of engineering education in the United States is that there is emphasis on application of knowledge to solve local or global challenges while developing technical engineering skills and the engineering habits of mind through experiential learning.”

He noted that the strengths of Indian engineering students were their diversity of experience and thought, an ethic of hard work, and resilience. “At the same time, Indian students need to look at their study abroad experience beyond mere coursework and achieving high course grades,” he added. “All students need to broaden their perspectives and skills to solve pressing challenges so they can transform the world. We need empathetic engineers who can employ their engineering habits of mind—creativity, collaboration, communication, optimism, systems thinking, and ethical considerations—to meet human needs.”

Prajwal Paudyal, a computer science doctoral student, demonstrates SCEPTRE, a smartphone interface that uses wireless armband sensors to intake American Sign Language gestures to communicate through computer systems. SCEPTRE could help facilitate conversations between hearing and non-hearing people, as well as serve as way for non-hearing users to interface with technology. (Photo: Jessica Hochreiter/ASU)

What does ASU look for in applicants? Dr Patrick Phelan, Assistant Dean of Graduate Studies & Professor of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, told BrainGain Magazine in an email interview, “The ASU Fulton Schools of Engineering are looking for applicants not only with the technical skills to succeed, but also the curiosity, open-mindedness, and importantly the drive to educate themselves and take advantage of all that ASU has to offer. Applicants with special life experiences stand out, such as those who have already entered the workforce, or undertaken volunteer activities to improve their communities and those around them.”

ASU has a diverse student body. Mr Holly Singh, Senior Director of the International Students & Scholars Center, said, “ASU is home to more than 12,700 international students, making us the #1 public university choice for international students.” ASU students come from more than 135 home countries, he added.

“With this much cultural diversity on our campuses, we have nearly 1,000 student clubs representing a wide range of interests, both professional and social,” he said. “As a student-centric university, many of these activities are run by student leaders. An example of this is our Coalition of International Students, which is led by Aravind Srinivasa.” He added that the International Students and Scholars Center also hosts information sessions and community events aimed at activating the student community.

Computer science doctoral student Koosha Sadeghi, right, speaks with Professor Sandeep Gupta, interim director of the School of Computing, Informatics, and Decision Systems Engineering, about his autonomous driver safety application, SafeDrive. Sadeghi designed the application, which estimates mental fatigue in drivers using brain sensors and predicts the probability of vehicle collisions by fusing car parameters with a driver's mental state. (Photo: Jessica Hochreiter/ASU)

Responding to a question about uncertainties in the wake of recent attacks on Indians and Indian Americans in the US, Mr Singh said, “The safety of our students is of utmost importance… In recent months, we have hosted forums for our international students to ensure that they know about all the resources available to them on campus, and to remind them that we are and will continue to be a welcoming community dedicated to the success of each student.”

He added that ASU has its own campus-based police department and we encourage students to use the LiveSafe smartphone app, so that safety-related information and resources are on hand at all times.

The schedule for the ASU officials’ India tour is as follows:

City	Date and Time	Venue
Pune	*Saturday, April 1* 2–4 PM & 4–6 PM	Vivanta by Taj Blue Diamond
Mumbai	*Sunday, April 2* 2-4 PM & 4-6 PM	JW Marriott Mumbai, Juhu
Chennai	*Tuesday, April 4* 7-9 PM	Taj Coromandel
Hyderabad	*Thursday, April 6* 7-9 PM	Taj Krishna Hyderabad
Bengaluru	*Saturday, April 8* 2-4 PM & 4-6 PM	JW Marriott Hotel Bengaluru
Delhi	*Saturday, April 8* 2-4 PM	Location TBD

At each of the above sessions, students will have the opportunity to meet with Dr Patrick Phelan, Dr Tirupalavanam Ganesh, Mr Holly Singh, and also Mr. Cesar Flores, Associate Director of International Admissions.