Dr Uday Salunkhe in University of Mumbai Delegation to China, 6th Nov to 9th Nov 2011
Dr Uday Salunkhe visited China as a part of Mumbai University delegation to the country. Dr Rajan Welukar, Vice Chancellor, University of Mumbai headed the delegation that included head of various academic institutions and organizations.
The delegation visited Tianjin University which happens to be the oldest University of China, Tianjin University of Technology and Nankai University. Three MoUs were also signed for collaborations in various study areas, including joint research. These will benefit both the students and faculty on either side as they get to interact with best minds of the other. One Confucius institute will be set up at Mumbai University to understand socio, cultural & economic development of China as well as drivers of growth. The MoU with Nankai University will pave way for joint research project in various disciplines of Management, Engineering, humanities & science along with exchange of PhD guides & research scholars and stress on lab concepts and experimentation.
The delegation focused on theories & practices of higher education for the disabled along with educational finance & investment management. The academia on both the sides also studied and discussed multidisciplinary approach including Management, Economics, and Arts & Engineering. The academia of the two countries also agreed upon cooperation to facilitate creation of new knowledge and for better retention of conceptual framework of conventional practices but at the same time adopting a lab approach for different disciplines to facilitate creation of new knowledge via research.
It will also focus on identifying talent and construction of faculty teams, exchange of ideas on significant issues, theoretical & practical, thus forming a rigorous & precise, free & open academic atmosphere with the goal of serving society.
Innovation figured as one of the top most priorities and area of interest of the two teams. They explored the possibilities of setting up joint incubation cell and innovation centre with joint efforts. Talks are already on for setting up a joint process of Innovation for all stakeholder including SMEs (small & Medium Enterprise), Incubation Centre and on joint student & faculty projects on innovation. The delegates also discussed of taking this ahead as the two powers join hands to set up a Centre of “CHINA & INDIA Innovation” i.e. “CHINOVATION”
The visit will definitely give boost to research orientations and thus supporting research at all levels be it the national, State and local community. Currently planned projects for doctoral degree are in the fields of Computer Science & Technology, Material Science & Engineering, Management Science & Technology, and Chemical Engineering & Technology. Hence, collaboration under these can be identified for doctoral students to engage with each other.
The coming together of the two Asian giants in the field of education and particularly innovation will definitely go a long way in adding to the robustness of the Indian higher education along with accelerating the pace of innovation in various spheres.