In response to India’s rapidly growing economy, the Association of American Universities (AAU) announced the launch of a new task force focusing on higher education partnerships with India. This task force has been highlighted in a White House fact sheet on the United States-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET), which intends to “elevate and expand” the “strategic technology partnership and defense industrial cooperation between the governments, businesses, and academic institutions” of the two countries. To prepare students for entry into the global workforce, the UW-Madison Center for South Asia is piloting a Language Pathways Program, which will fund two years of undergraduate South Asian language study at UW-Madison, followed by participation on one of three themed study abroad programs in India, with the first ever option to specialize in an International Business track.
Through the proposed Pathways Program, CSA accomplishes the following goals: (1) responds to the national need for an increased number of individuals with proficiency in critical SA languages, (2) works toward creating global professionals who can competently engage in the International Business and Sustainable Development communities, providing workforce skills that further US economic and security interests in the South Asia region; and (3) supports the development of three new study abroad programs, including the first undergraduate International Business study abroad track available in India to US students, creating formal curricular linkages between regional and international studies, critical language training, and professional schools.
The Language Pathways Program is supported by a two-year Department of Education Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language (UISFL) grant.
Info Session
Wednesday, Nov 6th
4:30pm, Ingraham 206
Samosas will be served
Program Eligibility
Applicants must be UW-Madison freshmen or sophomores enrolled in a degree program in good standing. Students from the following programs are eligible to participate: the CSA-administered BA certificate in South Asian Studies, the Asian Languages and Cultures (ALC) SA-named BA option, the International Studies Majors Program, the International Business Major and Certificate Programs, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) Majors and Certificate Programs, Global Health Institute (GHI) Majors and Certificate Programs, and the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies Majors and Certificate Programs. Selected candidates will demonstrate an academic and professional commitment to sustainability, human rights, or international business. No previous coursework is required in South Asian studies or Hindi/Urdu.
Program Requirements
- Intensive summer language training in either Hindi or Urdu through UW-Madison’s South Asia Summer Language Institute (SASLI) in 2025 (June 16-August 8, 2025)
- One area studies course per semester in the 2025-26 academic year and continued language study in either Hindi or Urdu
- Participation on any of UW-Madison’s study abroad programs in India
- Periodic program interview and survey participation
Program Benefits
- Full scholarship for summer 2025 language program tuition ($5,000)
- $15,000 scholarship for 2025-26 academic year
- $3,000 study abroad scholarship for summer or fall/winter 2026 program
Application Deadline: Applications are due Friday, December 6, 2024. Reference evaluations are due Monday, December 30, 2024.
Online Application: Applicants may access the online application form via UW NetID.
For more information, please contact Program Director, Dr. Sarah Beckham.