North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) today signed Memorandums of Agreement (MoUs) with nine organisations which included universities, institutes of research and higher learning and start up industries to strengthen the research activities in NEHU.
NEHU signed the MOUs with various reputed organisations that include CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow; CSIR-Institute of Toxicology Research (IITR), Lucknow; G B Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar; Sawaiom Fresh, Shillong; TURBIT, Shillong; National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), New Delhi; JDBP Agri International Pvt Ltd, Meerut; Regional Centre for Biotechnology, DBT, Faridabad; and Golden Signatures Research and Consulting, Delhi.
The MoU signing ceremony was graced by Governor of Meghalaya, Satya Pal Malik who is also the Chief Rector of the university. The event saw the celebration of Teacher’s Day and signing of MoUs.
Malik in his speech stated that in today’s time research is the key to solving a lot of problems and evolving into one of the self-sufficient nations. However, because of lack of collaborations, the growth is not being observed.
Giving the example of Patna University which was at one time called the Oxford of East, the Governor stated that the quality of research has gone down in Indian institutes and universities which is evident from the fact that only ten to twelve Nobel laureates are Indians, half of whom are foreign citizens and a few are Indians but are foreign born like Mother Teresa who received the Nobel for Peace Prize.
Malik also stressed on the point that the government should work on investing more on education and that any education bill is passed in parliament without any debate which is a shame as education builds the next generation and the nation.
Citing the example of Great Britain, the Governor stated that the British government never reduces the budget on education and the same should be done in India.
NEHU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla in his speech stated that it is indeed an event to be remembered wherein NEHU is getting into collaborations with nine organisations which will be remembered for times to come. The Vice-Chancellor also said that MoUs will provide ample scope for NEHU as well as the participating institutes and industries to collaborate in cutting edge technologies to bring about change in academia and way of doing research.
“The signing of the MOUs and exchange agreements in between our two institutions today symbolises a partnership which we believe will lead to many new joint research initiatives that produce new synergies, and add academic value for both NEHU and all these other prestigious universities, institutes and industries,” Prof. Shukla said.
He exhorted on the point that the MOUs focus on key areas of cooperation like academic, scientific and academia-industry-businesses cooperation between NEHU and these institutions, universities and industries in terms of collaborative programmes and other academic exchanges.
The Vice-Chancellor while addressing the audience mentioned the importance of National Education Policy 2020 in collaborating with different organisations for collaborative work. He also stressed on the point that in order to step up our collaboration in innovation, technology and research with other universities, institutes and industries, NEHU have been attracting both nationally and internationally renowned R&D institutions and universities to the university which have been evident in the past six months with the visit of foreign delegates and officials to NEHU campus paving the way for collaborations.
Representatives from all nine organisations were present. In his speech, Prof. Anand S. Dixit, Chairman of MoU committee gave a brief on the different organisations with which NEHU is getting into collaboration.
Prof. Dixit also mentioned the various aspects of the MoUs signed which included research collaborations ranging from Biotechnology, Environmental Science, Pharmacology, Genetics, Plant Breeding, Agricultural Sciences, Plant Conservation, Agro-technologies, Food, Drug, Chemical, Computational and Regulatory Toxicology together with Health Toxicology Assessments to industrial collaborations like entrepreneurship activities skilled livelihood practical training courses for students aspiring to be entrepreneurs, sharing and demonstrating technologies and innovations for socio-economic benefit for the people of the North East India, skilling of students by providing internship opportunities under SAHAKAR MITRA – The NCDC Scheme on Internship Program (SIP )among students, faculties and staff.
He also mentioned that earlier this year, NEHU has signed MoUs with Ambedkar Foundation, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Regional Training Institute, Shillong, Centre for Adivasi Research and Development, Bhubaneshwar, C V Laser Pvt. Ltd, Australia.
