Knowledge based missions in India - January/February 2013

Objective of the visit

To provide a platform to UK Institutions to establish stronger links, share knowledge, experience and new developments in the fields of Architecture in Mumbai, Engineering in Delhi NCR, Law in West Bengal and Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals in Gujarat.
The mission aims to facilitate interaction through seminars with potential students and disseminate information about studying opportunities in the above subject areas. The mission will also focus on facilitating faculty discussions at the respective Indian Institutions leading on to developing mutually beneficial academic and research links.

Information about the visit

Proposed dates:

• Architecture in Mumbai: 15 to 18 January 2013
• Engineering in Delhi NCR: 15 to 18 January 2013
• Law in Kolkata and Bhubaneswar : 21 to 25 January 2013
• Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals in Vadodara, Ahmedabad and Vallabh Viday Nagar : 11 to 14 February 2013

Proposed list of institutions that will most likely be included as part of the mission

• Mumbai: Sir JJ School of Architecture, Rachana Sansad Academy of Architecture, Rizvi college of Architecture, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University- College of Architecture, Dr DY Patil college of Architecture

Architecture has recently become one of the most influential professions globally. Presently, architecture field not only offers the opportunity to work in the mainstream architectural practice but also gives students the option to choose from lucrative career options such as urban planning, property development and disaster relief. Mumbai harbours some of the well known architecture institutes.

• Delhi NCR: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi Technological University (formerly known as Delhi College of Engineering), Jamia University-Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Delhi University-Netaji Subas Institute of Technology, Amity School of Engineering and Technology

*Delhi NCR is one of the key hubs in engineering education of North India. It has several Engineering Institutions which provide 4 or 5 year B.tech/B.E. degree courses. With the birth of more private institutes, there is an emergence of newer centres of engineering excellence in city.  Engineering is one of the top three subject choices in both Undergraduate and Postgraduate level as per the visitor profile statistics of last three Exhibitions in Delhi.

* National Capital Region (NCR) in India is a name for the metropolitan area which encompasses the entire National Capital Territory of Delhi which includes cities of Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Gurgaon and Manesar.

• West Bengal: Jogesh Chandra Chaudhuri Law College, South Calcutta Law College, Surendranath Law College and Department of Law, all affiliated to the University of Calcutta; the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences in Kolkata and KIIT University in Bhubaneswar.

Law is a very popular subject among students from East India. West Bengal traditionally boasts of eminent lawyers many of whom have degrees from UK universities. The Law Mission will focus on taking a group of UK academicians, specialising in law, to visit specific institutions in Kolkata and Bhubaneswar to interact with Indian academicians and law students. The visits would involve discussions about aspects of legal education in India and the UK, delivering seminars for students and faculty and exploring options for collaborations in programme delivery or staff/student exchange.

• Gujarat: Nirma University in Ahmedabad, B. V. Patel Pharmaceutical Education & Research Development (PERD) in Ahmedabad, St. Xavier’s College in Ahmedabad, Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU) in Vadodara and Sardar Patel University (SPU) in Vallabh Vidyanagar

Ahmedabad is the largest inland industrial center and the second largest industrial center in western India after Mumbai. The city also hosts a number of academic institutions offering quality courses and research in the field of biotechnology and pharmacy. Besides Ahmedabad, Vallabh Vidyanagar which is located at around 1 hour distance by road also hosts good academic institutions. Initially developed as an educational township, as the name suggests Vidya means Knowledge and Nagar means Town in Gujarati. Besides 24 university postgraduate departments, Vallabh Vidyanagar (also known as VV Nagar) has many charitable trusts running colleges, affiliated to the Sardar Patel University. . The university was the first in Gujarat to volunteer for accreditation by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council and, in 2001, SPU was rated four star by NAAC. The university has attracted a significant number of foreigners to enroll in programs including BBA, BCA, MCA, MBA, M-EB, Engg, Medical, M.Sc., Ph.D. etc.

Vadodara formerly known as Baroda, is the third largest and most populated city in the Indian State of Gujarat, after Ahmedabad and Surat. Vadodara is home to the beautiful Lakshmi Vilas Palace and the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda (M.S.U.) which is the largest university in Gujarat. Its famous for the Science, Fine Arts, Performing Arts, Technology, Management, Psychology, Social Work, Law and Medicine streams. It has a high literacy rate by Indian standards of 78% (2001). Major industries include petrochemicals, engineering, pharmaceuticals, plastics and Forex.

• Travelling UK academicians will be expected to deliver subject specific seminars.
• The visit will target both UG and PG students.
• Either one or a half working day at each Indian Institution
• Seminar topics shall be sent once we have received minimum numbers of expression of interest.

Selection criteria:

• Kindly nominate only one academic whose specialization matches with the subjects mentioned above. Only one delegate per institution will be allowed to participate.
• Interest and openness to collaborations including collaborative delivery of programmes in UK and India.
• A well thought of follow-up plan on completion of the visit
• A Minimum of 4 UK Institutions per mission will be accepted for participation
• Agents will not be allowed to participate
• Selection will be on first-come-first-served basis

Costs:

• UK academicians to fund their own international air travel, accommodation and related expenses. Local travel within the named city and publicity of the event will be organised by the British Council

A participation fee of £750 will be charged per UK institution for each mission: ‘Architecture Mumbai mission’, ‘Engineering Delhi NCR mission’, ‘Law West Bengal mission’ and £850 towards the ‘Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical mission’ in Gujarat.