Osmania University reaching out to Afghan students via WhatsApp

University has 158 nationals, including 136 men and 22 women, on its rolls

Hyderabad: Given the current uncertainty in Afghanistan, Osmania University (OU) has decided to hold a meeting with all Afghan students studying in colleges under its jurisdiction. Accordingly, the university has started reaching out to Afghan students here and has also created a WhatsApp group with over 100 students joining the group.

According to OU officials, the university has 158 Afghan nationals, including 136 men and 22 women, on its rolls, pursuing undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD programmes on the campus and in constituent and affiliated colleges of the university. While foreign students from 64 countries were admitted to various courses, most of them were from Afghanistan.
During the academic year 2021-22, 65 Afghan nationals were admitted to various programmes of the university. Most of these students join the courses with scholarships while a few of them take up courses on self-finance basis.

With Taliban taking over in Afghanistan, uncertainty is looming large over the future of these students, especially their financial status. Some students who have taken up self-finance courses were seeking scholarships due to financial constraints back home. Officials said based on valid reasons and eligibility of the student, the university would write to the Foreigners Regional Registration Office for extension of their visas.

“The university is giving support to Afghan students. Given the situation, we are guiding them accordingly. We have also formed a WhatsApp group to contact Afghan students in the university and have scheduled an online meeting with them to know their issues and concerns,” Osmania University Foreign Relations Office director Prof. V Appa Rao said.