Washington, Mar 16 (UNI) US Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Karen P Hughes will lead a delegation of senior officials and US college and university presidents to Mumbai and New Delhi next week to expand educational partnership between the two countries.

The delegation -- to be in India from March 24 to March 30 -- will meet students and leaders in higher education, government, and business to promote the quality, dynamism, and diversity of US higher education as well as Americans' desire to expand educational partnerships with Indians.

It will carry the message that the US welcomes and values international students who want to study in the United States, and will highlight the importance of international education to strengthening US-India ties and preparing globally competitive American students at educational institutions.

This unique pairing of US government and higher education leaders is the second in a series of delegations stemming from a commitment to greater partnership in the national interest made at the US University Presidents Summit on International Education co-hosted by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and US Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings in January 2006.

The delegation includes Ambassador Hughes, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Academic Programs Thomas A. Farrell, Johnson and Wales University President Dr John J Bowen, University of Washington President Dr Mark A Emmert, Oakton Community College President Dr Margaret B Lee, Baylor University President Dr John M.Lilley, North Carolina State University Chancellor Dr James L Oblinger and Kalamazoo College President Dr Eileen Wilson-Oyelaran.

UNI