The Minnesota Evaluation Studies Institute (MESI), headed by Professor Jean King, is hosting 19 visitors from India this week as part of an evaluation study tour. The visitors are high ranking government researchers charged with studying large educational programs across India. They are receiving training here at the University all week and will also meet with representatives from several college centers and visit schools in both the St. Paul and Anoka-Hennepin districts. The focus of study is practical program evaluation, particularly in school settings.

MESI is a collaboration of units across the University of Minnesota offering high quality training and professional development, and creating a professional community for evaluators across the world. The delegates from India–representing the states of Himachal Pradesh, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu–are faculty with The National Council of Educational Research and Training, a resource organization set up by the government of India with headquarters in New Delhi.