The Department of State is pleased to announce the U.S.-India Higher Education Summit will be held at Georgetown University on Thursday, October 13, 2011. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Indian Minister of Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal will deliver remarks at the opening of the Summit. Indian Ambassador to the U.S. Nirupama Rao and former U.S. Ambassador to India and President Emeritus of Colorado College Richard Celeste will deliver luncheon remarks. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Minister Sibal will deliver closing remarks. On October 12, Deputy Secretary of State William Burns and Minister Sibal will deliver remarks at an reception in honor of the Summit hosted by the U.S.-India Business Council.

The October 13 opening remarks by Secretary Clinton and Minister Kapil Sibal will be open to credentialed members of the media and streamed live here at approximately 8:00 a.m. The opening session will take place in Georgetown University’s Gaston Hall on the third floor of Healy Hall. Media must RSVP to attend: rmp47@georgetown.edu or 202-687-4328.

Pre-set time for video cameras: 6:00-6:15 a.m. at Healy Hall, Georgetown University, 37th and O Street NW, Washington, DC.

Final access time for journalists and still photographers: 7:30 a.m. at Healy Hall, Georgetown University, 37th and O Street NW, Washington, DC.

The United States envisions a robust role for the U.S. and Indian governments in promoting and encouraging the vibrancy and depth of the cooperation between our education sectors. The U.S.-India Higher Education Summit will provide a platform for government and education leaders from both countries to outline their vision for 21st century education engagement to a broad cross-section of academics, university presidents and administrators, non-governmental organizations and foundation executives, and association and private-sector leaders. The Summit will also highlight and emphasize the avenues through which the higher education communities in the United States and India have engaged and can further engage in expanded cooperation.

Virtual participants can participate in the live interactive webcast at https://statedept.connectsolutions.com/us-india and follow the hashtag #USIndiaEd on Twitter.

Credentialed members of the media will be able to cover additional portions of the U.S.-India Higher Education Summit. The full Summit agenda and other supporting materials can be found at //2009-2017.state.gov/p/sca/ci/in/education/index.htm. Interested media should RSVP to rmp47@georgetown.edu and HorneEJ@state.gov. Afternoon breakout sessions are closed to press.

PRESS CONTACTS:

Department of State
Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs
Emily Horne
HorneEJ@state.gov

Georgetown University
Director of Media Relations
Rachel Pugh
rmp47@georgetown.edu
202-687-4328

Department of State
Office of Press Relations
(202) 647-2492