UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI), a bilateral project between the UK and India that works towards the internationalization of higher education institutions in UK and India, completed its phase 3 with a programme at North East Hill University (NEHU) in Shillong on June 21.
UKIEIRI has operated in 3 Phases in India. Phase 1 and 2 ran from 2006-2016, during which time it facilitated the collaboration of more than 100 industry partners, engaged 4,500 education institutes and facilitated 25,000 academic exchanges between the UK and India. One of the important outcomes was the development of affordable healthcare products with huge commercial potential.
The British Council is a delivery partner for UKIERI and among other work with state governments aims to further the knowledge ambitions of young people across India. The Third Phase of UKIERI began in FY 2016-2017 and will continue till 2021.This Phase focuseson three areas of collaboration, namely capacity building and leadership development, research innovation and partnerships, and skill development in higher education.During this Phase, 32 higher education institutes were chosen from the East for research partnerships, of which 4 were from the Northeast.
In line with the focus area of UKIERI, namely capacity building and leadership development, UKIERI partnered with All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), to provide leadership training to 600 academicians from technical higher educational institutions across India, 6 cohorts of 100 each. Through the UKIERI-AICTE Technical Education Leadership Development Programme,senior academicians from AICTE recognised institutes received leadership training. The 3rd cohort completed leadership training on June 21 at North East Hill University (NEHU), in Shillong. Representatives of AICTE, NEHU, Dudley College and the British Council graced the occasion.
Dudley College delivered the programme, training the academic leaders from India. The programme also entailed three study tours for 60 participants. One hundred participants from the training programme received leadership certification today.Further, it was announced that the next study tour would be scheduled in October (i.e. October 14th – 19th) at the event.
Dr. Debanjan Chakrabarti, Director East and Northeast India said, “I am delighted to be present at the closing ceremony of the 3rd cohort of the UKIERI-AICTE Technical Education Leadership Development Programme in Shillong. The British Council’s programme in the Northeast is at the heart of my organisation’s work in India, and supports the aspiration of young men and women in the country. It is a great privilege to be with inspirational leaders of higher education who will have benefitted from the training delivered by Dudley College, UK.”
Professor Lowell Williams, Dudley College, The United Kingdom said, “With UKIERI we aim to foster deeper levels of engagement with researchers in India through partnerships, high quality research, deepening engagement in science to address global &societal problems. It is important to bring different people together because the differences in perspectives, expertise and knowledge is an immeasurably beneficial and productive exercise for all parties involved.”
Professor Anil Sahastrabuddhe, Chairman, AICTE said “The Indian government believes in working with and leveraging the expertise of people from different countries, for mutual benefit. UKIERI Phase 3 offers systemic change in education in the UK and in India,by building individual and institutional capacities.”
