Rono Hills, Apr 4: Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) today hosted a delegation from the European Union for an interaction on areas of possible collaboration in research and innovation.
The EU delegation was headed by Tania Friederichs and accompanied by Dr. Vivek Dham as member of the delegation, Inger Midtkandal of Royal Norwegian Embassy, Director CNRS, Paris Dr. Srinivas Kaveri, Alain Ghislain Baetens of Embassy of Belgium, Dr. Massimo Spandoni of Embassy of Italy and Dr. Jakob Williams Oerberg of the Royal Danish Embassy. The interaction programme was organized by the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) of the university.
Starting a series of presentations on the EU MS/AC-India research-funding programme by the visiting team, delegation head Tania Friedrichs shared that research and innovation cooperation was an integral part of the EU’s relation with India and called out for RGU to engage more with the instruments of research that the EU offers. Describing the present visit just as a beginning of a long-term engagement, she said that the EU has an implementing arrangement with India that included scholar mobility programs, individual fellowships as well as bilateral and multilateral collaborations.
Other presenters each from Belgium, France, Italy, Denmark and Norway shared the respective country perspectives on thrust areas of possible funding and collaborations. All speakers commended RGU on the innovative research initiatives and studies it had undertaken and said that this will pave ways for more future academic engagements.
Assenting RGU’s efforts for fostering biological and cultural diversity, the members of the delegation expressed their support towards activating instruments through which there would be internationalization of future research and innovation initiatives. The members also emphasized on the need for a mix of stakeholders in the research initiatives and suggested for a multi-disciplinary approach in conceptualizing the proposals where the focus could be not only on new technologies but also on how they impact society.
In his opening remarks, Vice-Chancellor Professor Saket Kushwaha, while introducing the University to the visiting dignitaries, said that the RGU has been striving to serve its principle of providing access to higher education as well as contributing to research in Arunachal Pradesh. Expressing his gratitude to the EU delegation for its visit, he said that the University and its entire fraternity are enthused at the possibilities of the future affiliations and collaborations.
Kick starting the series of presentations, IQAC Director Professor. Amitava Mitra, outlined the history of the RGU and its objectives of educating and training the manpower of the state by paying special attention to the social, economic, intellectual, academic and cultural aspects. He highlighted the rapid growth of the RGU in the last 10 years and mentioned that through its various research projects and collaborations, it has created a very congenial research ecosystem.
Earlier, RGU Dean of Life Sciences Professor RK Singh made an in-depth presentation on the unique biodiversity of Arunachal and highlighted the RGU’s potential as a major research partner that the EU could collaborate with.
Professor Jumyir Basar from the Arunachal Institute of Tribal Studies spoke of how the RGU was upholding its mandate to engage with the communities of the state and the issues confronting them and gave details of achievements of the university in the areas of social sciences and humanities research. RGU Press Release

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
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