Health Sciences International Dual Degree program graduates celebrated at a convocation ceremony at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham.

On October 15, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, the University of Arizona’s microcampus partner in India hosted an in-person convocation ceremony to celebrate its first graduating cohort from this dual degree partnership the Health Sciences International dual degree partnership. 

The partnership has provided students with a unique opportunity to simultaneously earn a Master of Science in Cellular and Molecular Medicine from the University of Arizona and one of the following degrees from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham.

School of Biotechnology, Amritapuri Campus

• MSc Bioinformatics
• MSc Biotechnology
• MSc Microbiology

Center for Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine, Kochi Campus

• MSc Molecular Medicine
• MTech Molecular Medicine
• MSc Nanobiotechnology
• MTech Nanobiotechnology

A special ceremony was held at the Amritapuri campus in India, to recognize the 13 dual degree graduates with University of Arizona stoles and pins.

“It was a proud moment for all the students, parents, and fellow faculty members assembled at the ceremony. Prof. Bipin Kumar G. Nair, Dean, School of Biotechnology, Amritapuri said "I am proud to say that these students have proved their propensity by surpassing all challenges and maintaining persistence in excelling in the best way possible for their brighter career prospects. This would inspire the new batch of aspiring candidates looking forward to joining the Dual Degree Program.”

 “Needless to say,” Nair added, “all of us here at Amrita truly value the amazing partnership that we have created and hope to continue striving to achieve even higher peaks of excellence.”

Due to internship commitments at the University of Arizona's main campus in Tucson, seven dual degree students were unable to attend the ceremony in Amritapuri.

 “During my internship, Dr. Manzoor Koyakutty from Amrita Nanosciences Center and Dr. Janko Nikolich-Žugich from the Department of Immunobiology at Arizona, collaborated on a small project that would unify the research that was being conducted at both labs,” said  Sparsha Pallen, a research intern at the UArizona College of Medicine. 

“During my internship in Arizona, I have gained more than just science, I have made amazing friends from all over the world,” Pallen added. “During my stay with one of my lab members, I tasted different cuisines, learned about multiple cultures, and experienced life in an American family. Despite being 8750 miles away from home, I felt at home.”

The Health Sciences International Dual Degree program currently has 65 students enrolled, of which 22 graduated in the summer of 2022. Since its inception, 30 students have graduated from this program.

Learn more about dual degree programs offered through our microcampus partner, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham.