Office of International Affairs:

Office of International Affairs Website

Established in 2011, the Office of International Affairs (OIA) of The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda (MSU Baroda) serves as the central nodal office for all international activities of the University. Working in close coordination with the Faculties, Colleges, Institutes, and the University administration, OIA facilitates MSU’s mission of global engagement while strengthening its international visibility and recognition as a leading centre for education and research.

In the context of globalized education and research-driven innovation, OIA functions as the institutional gateway for international collaboration and intercultural exchange. It provides a single-window system for admission, guidance, and support to international, NRI, and foreign national students of Indian origin, including those admitted under the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Scholarship.

OIA oversees the admission of foreign students to Certificate, Diploma, Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Postgraduate Diploma, and Ph.D. programmes. It also assists students with Foreigners’ Regional Registration Office (FRRO) registration, ensuring compliance for those holding long-term visas.

MSU Baroda maintains extensive partnerships with reputed universities and institutions worldwide. These collaborations promote faculty and student mobility through exchange programmes, joint research initiatives, and academic training.

Roles and Responsibilities of OIA

1. Foreign Student Admissions
   • Admission of self-financed international students to academic programmes at all levels.
   • Admission of ICCR scholarship holders to Certificate, Diploma, Undergraduate, Postgraduate, and Ph.D. programmes.
   • FRRO registration of all international students holding visas exceeding 180 days, to be completed within 14 days of arrival in India.
2. Exchange Programmes
   • Coordination of incoming and outgoing student and faculty exchange programmes with international institutions.
3. International Strategy and Partnerships
   • Development and implementation of international strategies through the Go-MSU-International (GOMSI) plan.
   • Expansion and management of International Memoranda of Understanding (IMOUs).
   • Facilitation of academic collaborations, research programmes, international travel, and institutional meetings.

Organizational Structure

The Office of International Affairs functions under the leadership of the Hon. Vice-Chancellor, Prof. (Dr.) Bhalchandra M. Bhange, who serves as Chairman. The office is headed by Prof. (Dr.) Dhanesh Patel, Director, and Prof. (Dr.) Vanisha Nambiar, Deputy Director (Partnerships and Collaborations). Dr. Mridula Trivedi Deputy Director (Ladies Hostel) serves as an office-bearer, and Dr. Rajesh Kelkar acts as the ICCR Coordinator, liaising between MSU Baroda and Gujarat ICCR. Dr. Ranjitsingh Devkar serves as the General Coordinator at OIA.

Nodal officers have been appointed from each Faculty to support faculty-level international activities. The office is supported by administrative staff for daily operations and also offers paid internships to student volunteers.

Current Activities of OIA

1. International Collaborations

OIA has facilitated the signing of over 112 International Memoranda of Understanding with academic institutions and organizations across disciplines and faculties of MSU Baroda.

2. Research, Outreach, and Global Engagement

The Director and Deputy Director actively pursue initiatives to enhance the global profile of MSU Baroda. OIA regularly organizes interactive sessions, workshops, and webinars with visiting faculty and international organizations, hosts global delegations, and conducts events in collaboration with bodies such as ICCR, USIEF, DAAD, the British Council, and various embassies.