Professor Steve Smith speaking in New Delhi
Vice-Chancellor visits India's premier university
Professor Steve Smith, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Exeter and the President of Universities UK met with Professor Surendra Prasad, the Director of the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, India's premier University. Both the University of Exeter and IIT Delhi are research intensive Universities with strengths in Engineering, Mathematics and Biosciences.
Professor Prasad and Professor Smith met to discuss how their two institutions might work more closely together in the future. Professor Prasad said that partnerships between UK and Indian universities based on Science and Technology "are riding high and we must take advantage of this". The Professors identified potential areas of collaboration such as water systems and functional materials. Professor Smith consolidated his offer of support by confirming two split site PhD Scholarships and two International Summer School studentships for IIT Delhi students.
Professor Smith said "IIT Delhi is an immensely respected and well established institution in India. Having collaborated on recent projects funded by UKIERI, the University of Exeter is delighted to be exploring ways to widen and deepen our engagement with IIT Delhi still further."
Whilst in Delhi Professor Smith met with India's Minister for Human Resource Development with responsibility for Higher Education Kapil Sibal to investigate ways in which UK universities can work more closely with counterparts in India. Professor Smith also gave the keynote address at a reception hosted by the British Council to celebrate the success of UK/India Higher Education partnerships.
Date: 4 March 2010
