Three top educational institutional institutions ranked among the best in the world have joined the Melbourne University to motivate bright graduates to pursue their doctorate courses.
The ‘Melbourne-India Postgraduate Programme’ will commence in January 2014 and offer 16 PhD scholarships and associated support valued at A$ 3 million over three years to deserving students.
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Karagpur, IIT Madras and Indian Institute of Science Bangalore are among the three top institutions of India that have inked the deal with the Melbourne University.
Students enrolled at Melbourne University to pursue their PhD will be supervised by the staff of the three Indian institutions.
Alternatively, students enrolled in one of these Indian institutions will have access to co-supervision with Melbourne academics.
The Programme was launched at an official ceremony held at the Australian High Commission based in New Delhi on November 11, 2013.
Melbourne University Vice-Chancellor Professor Glyn Davis described the Programme ‘as a valuable addition’ to the University’s offerings and that it was aimed to provide the next generation of researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs in Melbourne and India with world-leading academic supervision and support.
Shared challenges
”As a University, we are committed to supporting research that has global impact and benefits, and this Programme will go a long way to help further this goal. By enabling students from India and Australia to undertake jointly developed research of the highest quality, we are confident that the Programme will address shared global challenges in areas of environmental, societal and technological need,” he said.
Professor Davis said that the Programme will provide an opportunity to students to contribute to the development of education, cultural and industry links between the two countries.
IIT Karagpur Director Professor Indranil Manna said that the initiative will bring together leading institutions.
“Australian and Indian communities hold immense respect for each other and this is yet another opportunity that would contribute to the strengthening of cultural ties between the two great nations.
“The Faculty at IIT Kanpur has always advocated and encouraged inter-disciplinary and inter-institutional collaboration and cooperation in all areas of mutual interest in science and Engineering. Such programmes not only contribute to diversity on campus, but also help build bridges across geographical borders,” he said.
