Varanasi: Banaras Hindu University and Karlstad University of Sweden on Tuesday inked a Memorandum of Understanding on Academic and Research Co-operation. BHU rector Prof. VK Shukla and the vice chancellor of Karlstad University, Prof. Johan Sterte signed the document at the central office of BHU.
The cooperation aims at promoting academic collaboration for research, education and community service. It will encompass diverse disciplines and interdisciplinary fields including science, social sciences, arts and humanities, education and business. Besides enhancing the ongoing cooperation between BHU and Karlstad University, the MoU will also facilitate both the sides to jointly evolve collaborative research projects in areas of common interest, explore prospects of industry/community based learning and training programs and exchange of faculty, researchers and students.
Shukla said that BHU is one of the most prestigious institutions of India and since its inception this globally renowned institution has been playing a major role in nation building. Talking about the vision of the founder of BHU, Bharat Ratna Mahamana Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya, Prof Shukla said that the university’s focus is on producing good citizens who always put the nation first. He exuded confidence that the collaboration will go a long way in academic and research cooperation. Prof. Johan Sterte said that there are many more areas of cooperation between BHU and Karlstad University which promise great opportunities. He added that there are many common areas between India and Sweden which are yet to be explored and this could pave way for more collaboration in future.
The delegation of Karlstad University comprised Ms. Susanna Svensson, Prof. Peter Olausson, Dr. Kristian Niemi, Prof. Patrik Larsson and Ms. Carina Eriksson. The BHU delegation comprised Prof. Priyankar Upadhyaya, Unesco Chair and coordinator Malaviya Centre for Peace Research, Prof. H. P. Mathur, Coordinator, International Centre, Prof. Mallikarjun Joshi, Dean, Faculty of Science and Prof. Anju Sharan Upadhyaya.
Prof. Upadhyaya said that the collaboration between BHU and Karlstad University has been running for past over thirty years and there have been a number of areas in which the two sides have done exemplary work be it research, films, exchange programmes etc. Prof. Anju Sharan Upadhyaya recalled her visits to Karlstad University and the amount of support she received there. She underlined the uniqueness of the BHU-Karlstad University collaboration which has been benefiting both the sides for over three decades now.
Prof. Mallikarjun Joshi said that MoUs like this not only open new ways to expand cooperation in academics but also strengthen the idea of multi-culturalism. He said that these collaborations provide opportunities to work across cultures.
Members of the Karlstad University delegation expressed gratitude for the invitation extended to them to visit the university and be part of the MoU signing ceremony. They said that they look forward to many more collaborations between the two sides.
