Cultures converge as Andhra University marks its centenary

As Andhra University approaches its 100th Foundation Day connected April 26, 2026, the centenary celebrations are unfolding arsenic much than conscionable an world commemoration. They are emerging arsenic a vibrant showcase of divers cultures, traditions, cuisines, and languages. The festivities item the university’s long-standing planetary relations, reaffirming its relation arsenic a hub wherever section practice meets planetary exchange.

“At present, Andhra University has astir 1,150 planetary students from 57 countries. This is among the highest successful India, with students enrolled crossed undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes,” says Prof. S. Paul Douglas, Dean International Affairs of AU.

The beingness of planetary students astatine Andhra University is not new. For decades, the assemblage has attracted students from Asia and Africa done its world estimation and assistance programmes, peculiarly those administered by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). However, a much formalised operation emerged with the constitution of the Office of International Affairs successful the precocious 1990s. This helped streamline admissions, pupil services, and organization collaborations.

“The standard is not incidental but the effect of sustained engagement crossed regions. This year, the largest fig of students is from Bangladesh, with implicit 150. A important stock of our planetary students besides comes from African countries, with practice from crossed the continent,” says Prof. Douglas.

What distinguishes this cohort is not lone its diverseness but its continuity. “Many students enactment for extended periods. Some person been present for 7 to 10 years, completing their bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral studies,” Prof. Douglas observes. In disciplinary terms, engineering remains the main draw, portion doctoral enrolment is concentrated successful the sciences.

For Abeedullah Aabede from Afghanistan, a doctoral student successful the Department of Law, the centenary carries some symbolic and idiosyncratic resonance. “As an planetary pupil and a subordinate of the assemblage community, I americium arrogant to beryllium portion of this celebration. Campus beingness has been thoroughly enjoyable for maine truthful far,” helium says.

Food, music, and dance

International information successful the centenary has been highlighted done taste practices, with nutrient successful peculiar emerging arsenic a constituent of connection.

“The infinitesimal immoderate overseas pupil arrives successful India, wrong 24 to 48 hours they archer us, ‘We ate your biryani,’” Prof. Douglas observes. This highlights the immediacy with which culinary speech begins. Building connected this shared vocabulary, the assemblage organised a nutrient festival connected March 22 astatine the AU Convention Centre, bringing unneurotic participants from astir 40 countries.

“Around 40 countries participated, each preparing nutrient for astir 100 people. We served astir 4,000 plates from planetary participants and different 2,000 from the Department of Food Science and Technology,” helium says. The standard of the lawsuit was some logistical and symbolic. “We sold astir 5,000 coupons,” helium adds, with each sheet priced astatine ₹50 to guarantee accessibility.

The paper spanned divers geographies, ranging from Afghan Kabuli pulao—rich with dried fruits and meat—to dishes from West Asia, Southeast Asia, and respective African cuisines. Vegetarian offerings from countries specified arsenic Vietnam and Cambodia were besides included. For galore visitors, the dispersed provided not lone assortment but besides caller combinations of flavour and technique.

For Anette from Ghana, a second-year B. Pharmacy student, the lawsuit offered an accidental to contiguous a consciousness of home. “We prepared our accepted dishes—banku, made from maize starch and served with okra soup, and waakye, a atom and beans dish,” she says.

If the nutrient festival provided an introduction point, the taste programme held connected March 26 extended that engagement done show and narrative. Students introduced their countries with abbreviated presentations, followed by euphony and dance.

“The lawsuit ran for implicit 5 hours, featuring music, dance, and ocular presentations,” says Prof. Douglas, adding, “Within a fewer minutes, 1 could recognize the country’s civilization and traditions.” The format required cautious clip management. “We had to curtail immoderate performances due to the fact that of clip constraints. We are readying different taste lawsuit to accommodate fuller presentations,” the Professor says

Before the performances began, the students presented a little instauration to their countries, highlighting culture, economy, and tradition. “It was precise educational. In conscionable 5 minutes, 1 could recognize a state successful a mode that is different not possible,” helium says.

Beyond the centenary calendar, planetary students person extended their information to different events. Purnata Chakrobarty Disha, a B. Tech pupil successful Computer Science from Bangladesh, says, “Along with my team, we performed astatine the taste fest recently, and present we are preparing a Bharatanatyam fusion show for the Shatabdi Mahotsav.”

Global exposure

The celebrations person brought planetary engagements backmost into focus, arsenic vulnerability to a divers pupil assemblage has expanded organization horizons. “These interactions person opened our perspective. We are present actively pursuing collaborations with planetary universities, including associated programmes and speech initiatives,” says Prof. Douglas.

Existing partnerships see institutions successful Sweden and Australia, with further agreements presently nether negotiation. “Vice-Chancellor Prof. G. P. Rajasekhar has acceptable a extremity of initiating up to 100 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) oregon letters of intent with institutions worldwide,” helium says, adding that the centenary is being utilized arsenic an accidental to fortify these efforts.

Enriched lifestyle

As mentioned earlier, a important proportionality of planetary students astatine Andhra University are supported by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). “ICCR-sponsored students person fellowships ranging from ₹15,000 to ₹18,000 per month, on with lodging support. Their tuition fees and aerial question are besides covered,” helium says.

The regulatory model is structured. “Students indispensable study to the Foreigners Registration Office (FRO) Visakhapatnam City bureau wrong 48 hours of accomplishment and are periodically monitored thereafter by the Ministry of Home Affairs,” helium says.

Recent coordination betwixt the section authorities has addressed immoderate of these issues. Following an inaugural led by Visakhapatnam Commissioner of Police Shankha Brata Bagchi, a mechanics has been enactment successful spot to easiness entree to indispensable services.

The prof further mentions that plans are besides nether information to conception 2 further hostels for planetary students, 1 each for men and women, wrong the campus. “The nonsubjective is to amended surviving standards done enhanced facilities, including idiosyncratic rooms and room spaces,” helium says.

City of destiny

University’s initiatives, coupled with assorted ceremonial events, shaped the acquisition of surviving successful Visakhapatnam for galore planetary students. “Students similar Visakhapatnam implicit metro cities due to the fact that it is peaceful and safe,” says Prof. Douglas. “They bash not look the benignant of exploitation sometimes seen successful larger cities.” The cognition of information extends to autarkic surviving arrangements.

“There is nary compulsion for students to enactment successful hostels. Many present unrecorded independently successful rented apartments, often sharing accommodation and utilizing their lodging allowance,” helium says. “Even women students surviving independently study feeling unafraid and supported by section communities.”

For Lusia Ndateleela Kanhalelo from Namibia, a Master of Education student, the modulation has been gradual. “When I archetypal arrived, I was unsure astir the nutrient and culture. Now, it feels arsenic though I beryllium here. My section has been supportive, and I person learnt a large woody done seminars and planetary conferences,” she says.

Students from Yemen echo akin sentiments. Mohammed Alhaddad, an M. Pharmacy student, and Ahmed Ghaleb, pursuing M. Sc. Biotechnology, picture Visakhapatnam arsenic a spot that “now feels similar home”. They adhd that information successful the centenary celebrations “will stay a lasting memory”.

For Srishti Sikder, a Master’s pupil successful Journalism and Mass Communication from Bangladesh, the acquisition has been transformative. “I was initially apprehensive astir moving to a caller country, but it has turned retired well. Hostel life, module support, and interactions with students from antithetic countries, on with the centenary celebrations, person fixed america opportunities to prosecute much deeply,” she says.

For galore planetary students, the centenary is not simply an organization milestone, but a shared infinitesimal of information and belonging, 1 that extends beyond borders and into the University’s adjacent century.