In an encouraging development for international academic mobility from Rajasthan, three students from the University of Kota have secured admission to prestigious postgraduate programs at the Silk Road International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage, situated in the historic city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Selected under an academic collaboration and exchange initiative, the students will embark on their international studies late this month, with their departure scheduled for the final week of October. For academic partnerships in India, the Silk Road University specifically chose the University of Kota, marking a notable milestone for the regional state university.
The Selected Candidates and Admissions
The three students selected for this international program are Lakshita Dadhich, Deepal Hada, and Atre Gautam. The candidates will pursue master's degrees in specialized fields of global heritage and hospitality. Lakshita Dadhich has already received formal admission confirmation for the 2026-27 academic session to pursue a master's degree in tourism and hospitality. Expressing their excitement over the selection, students Deepal Hada and Lakshita Dadhich noted that studying at an ancient crossroad of world culture presents an unparalleled platform for their academic goals.
Curriculum and Specialized Disciplines
Prof. VP Saraswat, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kota, welcomed the achievement and highlighted the distinctive disciplines accessible to the students through this partnership. The programs focus heavily on niche sectors with high international demand, including tourism and hospitality management, archaeology, museology, conservation, the restoration of artistic and architectural monuments, and the maintenance of historical heritage. The administration underlined that these domains offer expansive career pathways in global research, cultural preservation, and heritage management.
Scholarship Value, Travel, and Living Allowances
The program provides comprehensive financial backing to ensure students can fully immerse themselves in their coursework without financial constraints. The Silk Road International University will award each selected student a monthly scholarship of 500 US dollars. In addition to this stipend, the university will provide 100 US dollars per month to cover hostel accommodation expenses. Furthermore, the host institution will cover the full cost of round-trip economy class airfare between India and Uzbekistan.
Academic Field Tours and Global Exposure
Complementing classroom lectures with hands-on exposure, the fellowship includes two specialized study tours each year, enabling students to explore the deep archaeological and cultural heritage of Uzbekistan first-hand. To support travel-related incidental expenses during these academic excursions, students will receive an extra allowance of 100 US dollars for each study tour.
Dr. Prof. Anukriti Sharma, Head of the International Affairs Department at the University of Kota, stated that this collaboration offers invaluable international academic exposure. Gaining practical training in rapidly expanding sectors such as heritage preservation, hospitality, and museology will equip the students with globally relevant credentials as they prepare for international careers.
