The North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Gujarat University to establish a mutually beneficial relationship based on academic, scientific cooperation and collaborative programs and other academic exchanges
NEHU and Gujarat University will be working with mutual collaboration to share each other’s strengths in academic programmes and research through the facilities available in both the universities.
The two universities have agreed to establish a strong relationship of academic collaboration by undertaking joint responsibilities and activities in their respective fields of excellence, research, innovation, resources, knowledge and training and capacity building.
The MoU shall promote joint research and academic programs, organisation of seminars,
workshops, outreach programs, faculty exchanges, and joint supervision of research scholars.
It will also facilitate the faculties of both the universities in applying for national and international funding for research projects. Both the universities will also collaborate to exchange Honorary or Adjunct Professorship or Visiting Fellow or Professors for mutual support to access the facilities available for an academic program, research activities and outreach programme.
While exchanging the MoU, it was decided that the Indian Institute of Sustainability (IIS), Meghalaya will be established in Shillong jointly, where the Indian Institute of Sustainability(IIS), Gujarat and NEHU will be the main shareholders. Under joint course programmes, areas of Entrepreneurship, Skill Development, Value Chain and Bamboo Technology will be a core focus.
Professor Prabha Shankar Shukla, Vice-Chancellor of NEHU suggested an International Cultural Exchange Programme where students of various countries can participate.
Professor Himanshu Pandya, Vice-Chancellor of Gujarat University invited the Vice-Chancellor of NEHU to establish a Bamboo House at Gujarat University which would enable the research on Bamboo Technology.
In response to the invitation, the Vice-Chancellor of NEHU invited Prof Pandya, VC of Gujarat University to establish a Gujarat Bhawan in the NEHU Campus. Gujarat University also appointed Prof Prabha Shankar Shukla as a Distinguished Professor at the Indian Institute of Sustainability, Gujarat University.
The collaboration is the first of its kind that a premier University of the North-Eastern region has signed an MoU with a premier University of Western India. It is a classic case of North-east India meeting Western India, the two extreme ends of the country.
Gujarat University is catering to the needs of higher education of more than two lakh students scattered over 235 colleges, 15 recognised institutions and 24 approved institutions.
There are 34 Post-Graduate University departments and 221 P.G. Centres. Gujarat University is an affiliating University at the undergraduate level, while it is a teaching one at the post-graduate level. The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranked Gujarat University 62nd overall in India and 43rd among universities in 2021.
