The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Madras University proposes Ulster tie-up

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Thursday, Nov 04, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Madras University proposes Ulster tie-up

By Our Special Correspondent

Barry Gardiner, M.P., Parlimentary Under Secretary of the State, Northern Ireland (middle) during his education visit to Madras University in Chennai on Wednesday. Looking on are Madras University Vice-Chancellor, V.S. Thyagarajan (left) and Stuart I nnes, Deputy High Commissioner, British Deputy High Commission. — S.R. Raghunathan

CHENNAI, NOV. 3. Madras University is readying a proposal for collaboration with Queen's University of Belfast in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, according to the Vice-Chancellor S.P. Thiyagarajan.

The proposal, outlining specific areas of partnership, will seek to strengthen the existing ties between the institutions, both formal and informal. Once the parties concerned agree on the specifics, a memorandum of understanding can be signed.

Prof. Thiyagarajan spoke after a meeting with a delegation of Northern Ireland officials led by Barry Gardiner, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of the State. Mr. Gardiner, who emphasised the need for a "strategic and productive alliance" between the two universities, said Queen's University was strong in biotechnology and biosciences. He was also keen to work together on accreditation of programmes with Indian universities. The British Deputy High Commissioner, Stuart Innes, said that every year 150 people received Chevening scholarships, one-half of which was from the southern States. This year, 15,000 students from India were expected to study in various universities in the U.K. and the South might account for a similar chunk. To enable more students to pursue higher education in the U.K., visa rules had been relaxed. Mr. Gardiner admitted that research was costlier in U.K. than in the U.S.

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