In an exclusive conversation with The Free Press Journal, Fred Pestello, President of St. Louis University (SLU), along with Sundar Kumarasamy, Strategic Growth Advisor at Globally Recruit, and Anushika Jain, also from Globally Recruit, shared insights on SLU’s innovative approach to global education. The discussion highlighted SLU’s commitment to fostering international collaborations, providing affordable education, and creating opportunities for Indian students to experience the best of both US and Indian academic environments. From cross-border partnerships with Mumbai University to initiatives like the SLU EXP program, the trio delved into how SLU is shaping the future of education for global students.

FPJ: What brings St. Louis University to India?

Fred Pestello: Several years ago, we started the Global Graduate Initiative. That is to engage more deeply with universities and students from India in global education. We're a Catholic Jesuit university with established St. Louis, Missouri, campus and a degree-granting campus in Madrid, Spain. We aim to form joint programs where students are educated on both campuses. We have engaged first and foremost with the University of Mumbai. Now in three programs where the student will spend his or her first year at the University of Mumbai and then go to St. Louis University. We are aware of the national initiative to educate Indian students, and the priority is keeping it affordable and accessible. Being sensitive to that, by partnering with the University of Mumbai, an Indian student for the first year has a very low cost. And then for the second year, when they're in St. Louis. We are providing a substantial discount on the tuition, trying to keep it affordable overall so that a student can get a degree from two major research universities or study at two major research universities at a relatively low cost to help with this national initiative around education.

FPJ: What attracts Indian students to St. Louis University?

Fred Pestello: Opportunity to study in the United States, to get practical experience working in the United States, and to have experience at two different institutions. We encourage our students in the United States to study abroad. We think the world is shrinking and that to be successful, a young person graduating now could live another 60, maybe 70, years or more. They need to have an understanding of the world beyond the country in which they were raised, and so we think that will be attractive and necessary.

FPJ: What is our current international student population in St. Louis, particularly from India?

Fred Pestello: At present in St. Louis, we have about 3,500 international students. About 80% of those students are Indian. That doesn't include our Madrid kids.

FPJ: What's one of the most popular courses the Indian students go for?

Fred Pestello: Indian students are very interested in health care science, data science, data analytics, computer science, and cybersecurity. We're seeing some increased interest in business. So it tends to be the STEM areas, the tech areas, and some businesses. Not very much in the traditional social sciences or humanities.

FPJ: Has the university taken any steps to promote studies in the humanities and social sciences?

Fred Pestello: At the graduate level, we focus particularly on the STEM area. We’re now exploring opportunities for undergraduates, especially in STEM and humanities. While we have strong programs in these areas, there hasn't been much student interest so far. 

Sundar Kumarasamy: For instance, the new program we launched yesterday, in collaboration with the US Embassy and Mumbai University, is in chemistry— a pure science-related program, not in the data science or tech fields. Our goal is to continue emphasising and expanding opportunities in both science and the humanities.

FPJ: Will there be faculty & student exchanges as part of this program?

Sundar Kumarasamy: The program is designed by Saint Louis University, which collaborates with Mumbai University to bring high-quality US education to India in an affordable way. Courses are taught by qualified faculty from Mumbai University, aligned with curriculum standards established by Saint Louis University. There’s no need to fly faculty from the US, as Mumbai University has enough qualified educators to deliver the courses, which are designed and defined by both institutions.

FPJ: Are the faculty members being trained to ensure they are fully aware of the course structure?

Sundar Kumarasamy: The curriculum is developed by and reviewed by faculty at Mumbai University. A dedicated committee ensures the right faculty members, experts in their fields with terminal degrees like PhDs, are selected to teach. The focus is on collaborative knowledge transfer between both countries, with faculties learning from each other about teaching methods and how to best apply the experiential learning approach emphasised under the National Education Policy (NEP). This bilateral approach enhances the pedagogy, allowing faculty to integrate US teaching methods into the courses at Mumbai University, benefiting other programs as well.

FPJ: What is the admission process and intake timeline for the Chemistry program, and how does it ensure affordability for students in analytics and cybersecurity?

Anushika Jain: The first cohort that we are planning for chemistry is this August- September (fall 2025). We also have worked with Mumbai University for two other majors, like analytics and cybersecurity. For the Analytics and Cybersecurity programs, the first cohort began in July-August last year, and a new intake is expected again this fall. We aim to make education affordable by offering significant scholarships, with the university covering the remaining tuition fees after the scholarships. Students benefit from a unique model, receiving high-quality education at low costs.

Sundar Kumarasamy: This is a unique model bringing high-quality, affordable education here. Students get the best of both worlds. They get one year of education at Mumbai University Friends Fund which is very low. Then the second year, the university generously offers scholarships to reduce it up to 50%. They're studying the standards of pedagogy in a familiar environment, so when they come there, they're already feeling familiar with the US system and can assimilate much more successfully. 

FPJ: How does the university support Indian students in adapting and feeling at home?

Fred Pestello: It starts with the required orientation process where we ensure Indian students get to know each other and the university. We listen to our students and put in place things they've asked for. For example, they love cricket, so we built a cricket field and cricket club. They wanted an Indian restaurant, so we allowed students to design the restaurant and meals. We celebrate holidays that Indian students want and put on social events for them. We found that Indian graduate students differ from American graduate students. American students tend to only want to engage in their discipline and department and not spend much time on campus. Indian students want to engage with the university, spending more time together on campus. We've taken a large building, and retrofitted it with new furniture to be comfortable for Indian students, creating a space that feels like theirs.

FPJ: How does the university address mental health challenges?

Fred Pestello: Following COVID, we saw a dramatic increase in mental health issues among students across the United States. Suicide rates went up, and anxiety increased. We invested substantially in increasing counsellors, counselling hours, and providing telephone services so students can get counselling even in the middle of the night. We invest in marketing these services and making them as accessible as possible. It's become less stigmatized in the United States in recent years. We don't wait for students to reach out. We have a unique program called Mental Health First Aid that trains people to identify and guide those who might need help.

FPJ: How does the university ensure student safety for international students?

Fred Pestello: We have a campus security team of 65 officers, the largest security force of any University in Missouri. We have telephones across campus for emergencies. Crimes around the university tend to be property crimes like car damage. We take both reactive and proactive approaches to security. Our leadership frequently visits India to connect with students. Last year, our vice president for enrollment management visited four times. We aim to educate students about safety, acknowledging the US has a higher crime rate than India.

FPJ: How are Indian students contributing to the U.S. economy?

Fred Pestello: They contribute to campus diversity, allowing American students to learn from international students. Indian students contribute to the U.S. economy both as students and through work after graduation. The U.S. higher education system can educate more than the domestic population. We see Indian students as a key source of students and revenue. Employers, especially in tech, see them as a potential labor source.

FPJ: What are the research opportunities for Indian students?

Fred Pestello: Faculty engage students in research projects. In STEM areas like chemistry, students assist with lab experiments and research. This provides practical experience working with faculty on campus.

FPJ: What about work opportunities?

Fred Pestello: We work with regional employers to make them aware of our students. 

Sundar Kumarasamy: We have a program called SLU EXP (SLU EXPeriential Learning Program) that provides experiential learning opportunities. It offers internships, workshops, and competitions to bridge the gap between university education and employer needs, focusing on 21st-century skills like communication, collaboration, and critical thinking. The program is free and has attracted students from over 150 countries. Most students seek OPT, with an 85-90% rate of securing internships, jobs, or starting their own companies.