Arunachal Pradesh is a living laboratory of traditional knowledge, remarked a student from University of South Florida (USF), USA, who had been to RIWATCH, Roing along with 14 other students and two faculties on a 15 days 'Study Abroad' programme from May 12.

"The modern world is looking for traditional knowledge of indigenous communities and really here is the living laboratory of traditional knowledge," the student opined.

The students were led by Dr. Carrion Iraida V and Dr. Manisha Joshi, faculties from department of Social Work and Public Health. It was a first ever study abroad program held in Arunachal Pradesh.

The very objective of the program was to provide US students opportunity to immerse themselves in the indigenous context of Northeast India and provide a learning experience about rich cultural traditions, social structures, health practices, lifestyles, natural resources management and sustainable development.

Further it aimed at strengthening the collaborative engagement in sending equal number of Arunachalee students to USF and other institutes of higher education in USA.

All of them were excited to experience the kind hospitality of the local communities, their festivals, social fabric, value system and above all ethno medicine.

The team visited Mayodiya and Hunli to experience the Indian way of living and travelling in crisscross high altitude thrilling roads.

A total of 16 sessions, including formal sessions by experts, informal interaction with community elders, women's group and administrators were conducted to fulfil the study objectives. Some of the remarkable sessions to note were by Sahil Nijhawan, Ph.D. Student from University College London -Zoological Society of London on his anthropological study of man and nature relationship. His presentation with slides of rare animals found in Mishmi hills thrilled a packed audience at RIWATCH conference hall.

Significance of cross cultural studies by Dr Lata Dani, a retired principal from Pune College and potential to explore networking with institutes of higher education by Dr. Joram Begi, Director of Higher and Technical Education were quite illuminating and informative to them.

The participants were touched to experience the openness and kind hospitality of the local people during number of dinners hosted by different families to them.

As a part of International Studies and community initiatives, the USF team participated in social work programme by cleaning the District Hospital Roing and planting trees at Govt. School Mayu on 24 May.

Responding to a Power-Point presentation on Lohit Youth Library Movement by Satyanarayanan Mundayoor, USF students gifted a packet of books for library movement. These books became a part of newly conceived program "Bag Pack Librarian" by RIWATCH and Lohit Library Movement aimed at decentralizing the Libraries centrally located in towns or villages. The USF team launched the first ten "Bag pack librarians" with bags on 24 May 2014 at RIWATCH campus.

The whole study abroad program was surely a big leap forward to place Arunachal Pradesh on global platform.