Media Release
Mangaluru, Mar 20: Four students from the department of public health, Nitte Institute of allied health sciences, Mangaluru, have been selected for an exchange programme at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Chosen for their academic performance, extracurricular activities, and interest in public health, Dr Malvika Nayak and Dr Anuleka N from the first year will study health economics, while Dr Nikita Nicoba and Biphina Esther Wilson from the second year will take up social epidemiology.
The students will leave for Sweden on March 20, and their course will run from March 25 to June 12. Their entire trip is funded through the Erasmus+ scholarship, covering travel, accommodation, insurance, daily expenses, and tuition fees. The scholarship includes tuition support of €3,750 (about Rs 3,37,500), travel costs of €1,500 (about Rs 1,35,000), and food and stay expenses of €700 (about Rs 63,000), making the total funding for each student approximately Rs 5,35,500.
Nitte University has a student exchange agreement with the University of Gothenburg, where Nitte students visit Sweden in spring, and global health students from Gothenburg visit Mangaluru every winter for 10 weeks with the guidance of director projects & NuTEC Prof (Dr) Indrani Karunasagar and senior director, international relations Prof (Dr) Iddya Karunasagar. The pro-chancellor Prof (Dr) M Shantharam Shetty, vice chancellor Dr Prof (Dr) M S Moodithaya, registrar Prof (Dr) Harsha Halahalli of Nitte (Deemed to be) University, along with the dean Prof (Dr) Jayaprakash Shetty K and head of the department of public health Dr Mackwin D’Mello, have congratulated the students on this valuable international learning opportunity.
Nitte (Deemed to be) University also runs the Nitte Public Health Winter School, which brings international students to India to learn about the country’s healthcare system. They visit hospitals and government health programs, conduct research, and gain hands-on experience in primary data collection and analysis under the guidance of Nitte faculty. The programme also includes academic workshops, field visits, and cultural experiences, allowing students to explore local traditions, festivals, cuisine, and coastal heritage. Through such initiatives, Nitte University continues to provide students with international exposure and practical learning opportunities in public health.