NUS & BU Entered Into Collaboration
Bharathiar University has entered into collaboration with the National University of Singapore (NUS) for conducting joint research programmes and exchange of faculty and students, Vice-Chancellor G. Thiruvasagam told a press conference here on Sunday. Back from a visit to the NUS with an eight-member university team, Mr. Thiruvasagam said the NUS had expressed interest in collaborating with Bharathiar University and accordingly had sent B.V.R. Chowdari, Executive Director, Indian Universities Research Initiative, NUS, on a visit last year.“The NUS is ranked No. 30 in the world. It has tie-ups with many renowned universities. In India, it has collaboration only with the Indian Institutes of Kanpur and Madras, and the University of Hyderabad. The university was interested in the basic sciences programmes we are offering. Our faculty members, who were part of the team, and the faculty members of the NUS have charted out the areas for joint collaboration,” the Vice-Chancellor said.
To begin with, a joint Ph. D. programme would be offered, whereby select Ph. D. scholars of Bharathiar University would be allowed to complete the final six months’ research at NUS. In addition to the Junior Research Fellowship, they would also receive a living allowance of 600 Singapore dollars from the NUS for research work. Bharathiar University would bear the total accommodation expense and 50 per cent of the travel expense (from the special Corpus Fund already in place for such purpose). Final year M. Sc. students would be permitted to complete the final semester at the NUS. Initially, 10 scholars and 10 post-graduate students would be selected, based on merit and economic criteria, by a special committee comprising both the university representatives. The first batch of students is expected to be selected by mid-May.
The exchange of faculty would be for two to four weeks initially. NUS faculty in nanotechnology and computer science would visit Bharathiar University to take classes. Joint symposia and workshops have also been planned. Mr. Thiruvasagam said he had extended an invitation to Tan Chorh Chuan, acting President of NUS, to visit Bharathiar University in June. A memorandum of understanding on all the programmes is expected to be signed between both the universities at that time.
