Oz varsity strengthens ties with India

Inks MoU with BITS Pilani, Hyderabad and VIT, Vellore

Hyderabad: Representatives from Macquarie University, Australia visited India recently and launched scholarships worth AUD 1 million for Indian students and signed agreements with local education, research and business groups. Deputy Vice-Chancellor, International, Professor Jim Lee said, “Indian Institutions offer industry oriented and innovative programmes with a track record of excellent career outcomes for their students.

Macquarie University prides itself on its world-class facilities, its internationalised curriculum and research achievements particularly in science and engineering. Students, teaching and research staff in India and Australia will benefit from this engagement.” During the visit Macquarie University signed memorandums of understanding (MoU) with Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS) and VIT University, Vellore.

During the visit to BITS Pilani, Hyderabad campus, Prof. Jim Lee signed an MoU with the Vice Chancellor of BITS Pilani, Prof. Bijendra Nath Jain. The MoUs will support a range of activities that will strengthen collaboration between the institutions, including a scholarship programme, student and staff exchange, joint research collaboration and co-supervision of PhD students.

Professor Iain Collings, said “The agreements will provide the next generation of Australian and Indian researchers and innovators with access to outstanding research and training opportunities in both countries.” Macquarie University announced a new scholarship programme, valued at AUD 1 million, for Indian students commencing this.

The Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship, valued up to AUD 10,000, will assist talented Indian students to pursue coursework degree programs by offsetting almost a third of the annual fees for most courses at Macquarie University. Fifty scholarships will be available in 2015.

Under the South Asia Scholarships scheme Macquarie University will provide an ‘early acceptance discount’ of AUD 6,000 towards the total tuition of a student’s programme. One hundred South Asia Scholarships will be available from July to coursework students who accept their offer by a set deadline.

This scholarship funding is in addition to existing $11 million that Macquarie University provides through a scholarship program to Indian PhD candidates. There are currently 55 students undertaking PhDs at Macquarie University, in science, engineering, cognitive sciences, economics and law.