SRM Institute of Science and Technology and La Trobe University, Australia, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a joint Centre of Eminence to pave the way for collaboration in digital technologies and engineering.
The MoU will also open opportunities for research collaboration in areas of mutual interest, student and faculty exchange programmes. Besides attracting industries to invest in innovative ideas, the MoU will attract potential minds and help converge to achievable goals in IoT and allied fields like machine learning, artificial intelligence, data analytics, cloud computing and cyber security. Design, development, incubation and nurturing of ideas as business models or proof of concepts.
“La Trobe recognizes SRM as one of the top-ranking universities in India, offering a wide range of UG, PG and Research Programmes in Engineering, Management, Medicine and Science and Humanities. This partnership would establish a top-class collaborative Joint Centre of Eminence in Digital Technologies and Engineering,” said a spokesperson of La Trobe University, ranked among the top 1 % of Universities of the World and one of the country’s pioneering universities offering distinctive and high-quality degrees to equip students to understand and engage with global issues of today.
While interacting with the media after the signing of the MoU, AO – Vice-Chancellor and President, La Trobe University, Prof John Kinley Dewar said the exchange will make it possible for them to plan the future in a more coordinated way between the two institutions. The new Joint Centre of Eminence will have its own Governance structure with 2 directors – 1 from each institution, an Advisory Board and systematic planning.
“We are very keen that our students come to India – which is a very dynamic country, and our students can learn so much from by spending here and getting exposed to the expertise and talent here, and also learning the Indian way of life and culture,” Prof. Dewar remarked.
Indian students can visit Australia for short courses like artificial intelligence, cyber security, and the Internet of Things, in which they possess the expertise, he said.
“I have been coming to India for 30 years and have never observed a time when there is so much optimism – both about what is happening in India and about relations between Australia and India. I am very excited and this is a partnership of equals without a hierarchical relationship,” he said.
SRMIST and La Trobe both come together as very strong institutions with complementary expertise to gain from the collaboration, including short courses and seminars for faculty joint research projects. He said this would be model many universities will pursue increasingly, particularly in India.
“We have many reasons for wanting to collaborate with institutions of this calibre (SRMIST). The calibre of students at this university is remarkable. We are very keen to work with SRM to help develop and teach them. We are also very keen –through you – to partner with the industry. We are very committed to taking our knowledge and expertise outside for an impact in the wider world and collaborating with industries is very important,” Prof. Dewar added.
Vice Chancellor of SRMIST, Prof. C.Muthamizhchelvan, said if faculty members from La Trobe and SRMIST can spend a semester teaching and research and once they come back, they can create similar facilities. Joint collaborative research can happen this way and it would also create avenues to see the administrative functioning of La Trobe University.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Future Growth) Dr. Stacey Farraway, Pro Vice Chancellor – Educational Partnership, Prof. Amalia Di Iorio, Registrar, Dr. S.Ponnusamy, Director, International Relations, Dr.Lakshmi Narasimhan, Assistant Director, International Relations, Prof. Kayalvizhi Jayavel were among others present on the occasion
