Ayurveda courses a big hit among foreign students

JAIPUR: Degree and diploma courses in ayurveda in Rajasthan are drawing students from SAARC nations, Europe and USA. The National Institute of Ayurveda (NIA), Jaipur, run by the ministry of Ayush, has received ‘expression of interest’ from foreign students to study ayurveda.
Shankar Rao, director of NIA, said, “This year again, we have received a phenomenal response from foreign students.The popularity of ayurveda has been increasing. Students are making a beeline for its courses because of the vast job opportunities this stream offers.”
Students interested in MD and PhD courses can apply for admission on website: www.nia.nic.in
The NIA is affiliated with Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Rajasthan Ayurved University which one among four such universities in the country.
Here, students are exposed to the ancient science of ayurveda from ancient and modern texts. The state-of-the-art labs are equipped with advanced medical and surgical equipment along with a pharmacy unit for drug production.
“Our labs have facilities for conducting bio-chemistry, haematology and microbiology and drug tests. Besides, our pharmacy production unit has all natural resources required to make medicines,” said Rao.
Here, special courses were introduced for foreigners keeping in mind their interest. In the past three years since the establishment of Ayush ministry, the people’s awareness of ayurveda has increased considerably.
Paul Dsouza of Italy has showed interest in applying for a diploma course in introduction to ayurveda.
“I am a researcher on ancient medical sciences. I have read a lot about ayurveda and found several principles of ayurveda to be true in the light recent medical findings,” he told Rao in an email.
Every day, the institute has been receiving applications from foreigners seeking admission and guidance for research work. So far, 50 foreign students have completed their diploma courses from here.