Western Sydney University delegation visits PAU for academic exchange

NEW DELHI: A four-person delegation from Western Sydney University (WSU), Australia, visited Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in general and the College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology (COAET) in particular to discuss dual degree provision in undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) programmes with financial support.

The delegation was exploring possibilities of bilateral cooperation in academic-exchange programmes. It stressed on exploring avenues in newer areas of research under student and faculty exchange programmes for productive outcome and mutual benefit of both the institutions.

The delegation held parleys with Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice-Chancellor, Mr Rishi Pal Singh, Registrar, MIS Gill, Dean, Postgraduate Studies, Manjeet Singh, Dean, COAET, JP Singh, Head, Department of Soil and Water Engineering and VP Sethi, Head, Department of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, PAU.

During interaction, Gosal stated that PAU, being a top state agri-varsity in India, was laying a specific thrust on the best quality research. He emphasised the need to look into opportunities in more recent fields of study via faculty and student exchange initiatives in order to achieve positive outcomes and benefit both universities.

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Rishi Pal Singh called upon the delegation members, and the Deans PGS and COAET of PAU to identify collaborative areas with a perspective of career and job avenues, as well as work out modalities in accordance with the guidelines issued by the ICAR and the Government of India.

Impressed by the multi-disciplinary UG and PG courses of PAU, Dr Andersion gave a detailed overview of the courses and disciplines available at WSU, which could be considered for offering several scholarships and fee waivers to the students under talent hunt programmes.

Vishal Bector, Associate Director, International linkages, while coordinating the session, informed that PAU was catering to the needs of the rural background students. Welcoming maximum scholarships and fee waivers, he said that this tie-up could serve the best interest of the PAU students.

Samanpreet Kaur, Professor of Soil and Water Engineering, informed that the visiting team had preliminary discussions on various areas and scope of professional collaboration. Besides, they held an interactive session with PG students and motivated them for joint study in future. The students’ queries were addressed by the WSU team.