The Surat-based Veer Narmad South Gujarat University (VNSGU), in an alleged response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call, has decided to open a foreign languages department offering courses in 10 languages, including Russian, Korean, Japanese and Hindi. French and Mandarin, to find interpreters to assist the city’s diamond trading network abroad.
Modi, while inaugurating the Surat Diamond Bourse (SDB) on Sunday, suggested to Prime Minister Bhupendra Patel to start foreign language courses at VNSGU. “Local students will benefit in terms of employment, as through SDB a large number of foreign clients will come to Surat and it will be difficult for diamond businessmen to interact with them. So, with the help of a local translator, businessmen in Surat will not face any difficulties,” the chief minister said. Communications are an important tool to become a global hub.
In a meeting on Monday afternoon between the Minister of State for Primary, Secondary and Adult Education, Praful Pancheria – who belongs to Surat – with the academic council of the university and Vice-Chancellor Kishorsinh Chavda, it was decided that VNSGU would start short-term certificate and diploma courses for those interested in the diamond and textile industry from the class The second semester itself.
The proposal included establishing a foreign languages department at the university, and offering a certificate course in language translation using artificial intelligence, in addition to certificate courses in German, French, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Japanese, Dutch, Swedish, Finnish, and Korean.
While the proposal has been approved by the VNSGU union, it will be sent to the state government for grants. The foreign languages department will initially be run from the English department of VNSGU, sources said. The meeting also discussed offering foreign language courses at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels at its various stages.
The majority of rough diamonds from countries like Russia, Africa and Canada are polished in Surat and sold to the US, Hong Kong, Thailand, UK, Canada, Israel and others.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Dr Chavda said: “We will start certificate and diploma courses and are also seeking details from diamond and textile industry representatives who are interested in sending their employees to enroll in such courses. We will be recruiting faculty in different foreign languages and hope to start independent degree courses from the second semester of 2023-24. Also, in 2024-2025, foreign language papers will be included in undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
“We have already instructed the committee members to design the certification courses in a simpler way so that those in the industry can also avail the benefits. These courses will certainly benefit diamond and textile makers when they go abroad,” he added.
Academic Council member and VNSGU union member Dr Snehal Joshi said: “We have formed a nine-member committee to plan the curriculum. The 60-hour certificate course will have two credits. Likewise, the duration of the diploma courses will be six months and a research paper on foreign language will be taught to students.” Undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Chairman of the Gems and Jewelery Export Promotion Council (Gujarat Region), Vijay Manjukia, said, “A delegation from the Russian Sakha Republic in Yakutia District of Siberia, who came to Surat and visited the GJEPC, brought a translator with them. Diamond businessmen from Surat travel to different countries and encounter Difficulties in making deals with foreign counterparts If foreign language courses are started at VNSGU, students studying such courses will get jobs as interpreters easily.
The delegation visited Surat on May 16, shortly after the United States imposed sanctions on the import of diamonds from Russia to the Alrosa company, after the country launched a war against Ukraine.
Other government-run universities that offer foreign language courses are MS Baroda University in Vadodara, which has departments exclusively teaching Russian, German and French, and Gujarat Vidyapith University which has a languages department that offers foreign language courses as well.
Veer Narmad South Gujarat University (VNSGU) in Ahmedabad is making strides in preparing students for international business opportunities by offering courses in 10 foreign languages. This initiative is aimed at creating a pool of talented interpreters who can assist diamond traders in their interactions with foreign clients. By providing students with the linguistic skills necessary to thrive in the global diamond industry, VNSGU is not only helping to bridge cultural and linguistic barriers, but also contributing to the success of diamond traders abroad.