Report by Michael Rodrigues
Team Mangalorean Udupi

Manipal: The two-day workshop on UK-India Teaching Partnership Development Forum, organized by the Manipal University in association with The University of Nottingham at India Habitat Centre New Delhi got under way on Tuesday June 26.

The objectives of the Forum are to foster relationships between Universities of India and UK, promote joint and dual degree programs, encourage two-way mobility of students and staff and facilitate collaborative research.

Over 150 delegates consisting of vice chancellors, heads of institutions and researchers from India and UK are attending the workshop, according to a release from Manipal University. The event is sponsored by British Council, India.

Present at the inaugural function were Prof Samir Brahmachari, director general, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, India, Rob Lynes, director, British Council India, Dr H Vinod Bhat, pro vice chancellor, Manipal University, India and Prof Christine Ennew, pro vice chancellor, The University of Nottingham, UK. 
Prof Ennew welcomed the audience and stressed the need for fostering partnerships by bringing together Universities from both the countries and hoped that the deliberations would promote such activities. Dr Vinod Bhat in his address mentioned that India was witnessing a sea change in higher education.

“While some reforms have already been ushered in, we are awaiting the enactment of a few more Parliamentary Bills, especially those related to National Council on Higher Education and Research, entry of Foreign Universities and amendments to UGC Act for deemed universities,” he said. 

He also made an appeal not to look at overseas universities, which, at some time in near future, would set up campuses in India, as competition, but to look at the exciting prospects of collaboration.

Dr Samir Brahmachari in his inaugural address envisaged open source and connectivity to evolve innovative teaching methods to provide opportunities for millions of Indian students.  Dr Rob Lynes highlighted the need for partnerships and opportunities provided by British Council.

Other dignitaries who spoke on the opening day were Srirkantan Murthy, vice president, Infosys, T M Gore, director, Global Network and Communities, University of London, UK, Sally Goggin, director education, British Council, India, Rajjat Kawas, Manipal City and Guilds, Dr Paul Devadoss, director, partnership development, University of Lancaster, UK and Dr Bhushan Patwardhan, vice chancellor, Symbiosis University, Pune.