Universities of Coimbatore Ties-up with Mexico's Centre for Research and Advance Studies

COIMBATORE: In a move that may help enhance quality of science education in Coimbatore, Mexico's Centre for Research and Advance Studies has entered into a partnership with three key educational institutions in the city including Bharatiyar University.

As per the deal, aspiring bright science students in Coimbatore will get preference in admission as research scholars and post graduate students at the institution, funded and operated by the Mexican Government. Known in Spanish as CINVESTAV, the institution functions on similar lines of the Indian Council for Scientific Research ( CSIR). Selected students can meet expenses through fellowships and support programmes being offered by the Mexican Government. The institution will not charge any fee.

Apart from Bharathiyar University, PSG Institute of Technology and Coimbatore Institute of Technology are also entering into the partnership. While Bharatiyar University signed the MoU with CINVESTAV director general Dr Jose Pablo Rene Asomoza Palacio on Wednesday, the other two institutions signed MOUs on Thursday. Karunya University is already in partnership with Mexico's leading scientific research centre.

As pioneers in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, CINVESTAV will primarily focus on joint efforts in the field. Joint efforts in areas like basic sciences and bio-technology also will be initiated. According to Dr P Anbalagan of Bharatiyar University, the partnership will not just ensure research facilities for Coimbatore students in Mexico but also provide them opportunities for short term visits to improve their knowledge. Students from Mexico also would be exchanged with the Coimbatore institutions.

As per the plan, faculty exchange would also be facilitated very soon. Both the institutions also agreed to probe the possibilities of starting dual degree courses in key subjects with students dividing the total number of academic years between the two universities.

Dr S Velumani, a former student of Bharathiyar University and presently a faculty of CINVESTAV, said 20 Indian students are now doing Ph D in Mexico under his initiative. Hailing from Tatabad in the city, Velumany is instrumental for the partnership programmes, which would brighten the scope of science education in Coimbatore in the days to come. 

Coutesty: Times of India