GSIE, College of Engineering Participate in ShiftED Conference in India

Representatives from the U of A recently participated in the ShiftED 2026 conference in New Delhi, India, as part of the U of A's ongoing efforts to strengthen relationships in a country that is the world's leading source of outbound international students.

Patricia Gamboa, assistant dean in the Graduate School and International Education, and Bryan Hill, associate dean of student success in the College of Engineering, traveled to the conference held Feb. 20-21. Gamboa served on the panel, "From Uncertainty to Alignment: How Global Universities Are Rethinking Engagement With India," while Hill served on an Admissions Shark Tank panel, where Indian students presented an elevator pitch on themselves, why they want to study in a specific program and why they want to study abroad in the United States.

"India is the fastest growing country for graduate student mobility and a vital partner in our global engagement strategy," Gamboa said. "With the Midwest often underrepresented in India, the University of Arkansas attended ShiftED 2026 to strengthen strategic graduate recruitment, engage with local university representatives and connect with students, families and counselors in one of the world's most dynamic education markets."

The conference is designed to connect Indian students with international universities, explore program alignment with emerging industries and explore scholarship opportunities. In addition to Gamboa and Hill's involvement, the U of A also had an interactive recruitment booth set up with an LED video display showcasing photos and videos of the student experience at the U of A.

India remains one of the U of A's top recruiting destinations. More Indian students are enrolled at the U of A than from any other country outside the U.S., with 161 students enrolled in fall 2025. That number has increased by 75% since 2019, when the university enrolled 92 students from India.

Globally, India sends more students to study abroad in the United States than any other country, with nearly 350,000 students traveling to America in 2024.

"The summit offered a valuable opportunity to advance our shared commitment to global education and further position the University of Arkansas as a premier destination for India's most talented and ambitious graduate students," Gamboa said. "We are eager to build on this momentum as we continue strengthening pathways that bring exceptional graduate students to our campus."