US Fulbright Scholar in Odisha-based KISS for research

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Sept 19:

Renowned Anthropology professor and Fulbright scholar Christine Finnan is in Odisha-for extensive research on the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), its tribal students and activities, a KISS release said today.

She arrived in Bhubaneswar with her lawyer husband George today.

A Stanford University product and a professor in Anthropology, Finnan will spend more than a year at KISS, which has been acknowledged by the US government as a successful model school.

The English Access Micro-scholarship Programme is being run in KISS for the last 5 years by the US Government. The US Government invites at least 5 to 6 KISS students and teachers to visit America every year.

Reposing confidence over the way the English Access Micro Scholarship Programme is being run at the KISS, the US government has nominated Finnan for a research project on the tribal students here. Expressing his happiness, the founder of KIIT and KISS, Dr. Achyuta Samanta said US accreditation to KISS and delegating a Fulbright scholar here for research is a matter of great pride for Odisha.

The Fulbright Program is highly competitive, merit-based grants for international educational exchange for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists, founded by United States’ Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946.

Under the Fulbright Program, the selected U.S. citizens become eligible for scholarships to study, conduct research, or exercise their talents abroad; and citizens of other countries may qualify to do the same in the United States. The Fulbright Program is one of the most prestigious awards programs worldwide, operating in over 155 countries.

Fifty-three Fulbright alumni have won Nobel Prizes.

It may be mentioned here that Czech Republic’s High Commissioner to India, His Excellency Miloslav Stasek visited KISS today with a 8-member business delegation. He expressed happiness over the inclusion of KISS students in the social mainstream and the idea of providing them advanced yet free education with wholesome development.