T’puram: As many as 140 international students from 41 countries who secured admission to University of Kerala for the 2026-27 academic year attended an orientation programme organised for newly admitted foreign students.The participants included 53 four-year undergraduate students, 69 postgraduate students and 18 PhD scholars. Of the total, 79 were male students and 61 were female students.Sri Lanka accounted for the largest number of students, with 16 admissions, followed by Bangladesh with 14 and Tajikistan with nine. Students from several other countries also joined various academic programmes at the university on Wednesday. Three students from US, Maldives and Bangladesh secured admission under the self-financing category in the four-year undergraduate programme, while a self-financing postgraduate student from Colombia was also among the new entrants.The largest number of international students—31—joined political science department. The Institute of Management in Kerala (IMK) admitted 29 students, while 19 students joined the department of computer science.Inaugurating the programme, university vice-chancellor Mohanan Kunnummal said international students studying at the university would become ‘brand ambassadors‘ of their respective countries. On returning home after completing their studies, they would also serve as ambassadors of the university and India’s centres of excellence in education and research, he said.Emphasising the idea of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—the world is one family—the VC said overseas education offered students an opportunity to understand different countries and cultures and build meaningful relationships with people from across the world.The orientation programme was organised to welcome the new international students and provide them with a smooth start to their academic life at the university. Sessions covered the university’s academic environment, student support systems, campus facilities and opportunities available to students.Representatives of the university administration, Centre for Global Academics, International Students’ Cell, IQAC, Centre for Undergraduate Studies, campus administration and other academic and support units interacted with the students during the programme. The sessions also included discussions on the future activities of the Centre for Global Academics.
