Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SM)

Udupi Oct 11:  British Deputy High Commissioner Ian Felton and his team from Bangalore visited Manipal University (MU) on Wednesday with a simple message, “Britain is open to India and we want to be India's partner of choice - be it in business or education”.

Speaking to the media after visiting the college of Manipal University with UK links, British Deputy High Commissioner Ian Felton said, "I am delighted to be here at Manipal to celebrate the successful collaboration between British and Indian centers of excellence."

Earlier in the day, Felton interacted with top Manipal University officials and discussed avenues for greater collaboration with UK universities.  Pro vice chancellor, Dr H Vinod Bhat, who was also present at the briefing said, “Manipal University is always keen to collaborate with universities in the United Kingdom for mutual benefits in academics and research.  As a result, we do have tie-ups with Universities like Nottingham, Lancaster, Exeter and others”.

Dr Bhat added, “The collaborations are primarily for student and faculty exchange in the disciplines of engineering, information sciences, hospitality management, sports medicine etc.

The student exchange programs provide opportunities for students to pursue both undergraduate tie-up programs as well as dual master’s degree programs.Our faculty members are also being benefited through post-doctoral research”.

“Research is a key focus area for the UK,” said Felton. “Converting research output into viable commercial ventures is important. That is reflected by the recent Cambridge University-IISc innovation meet in Bangalore in September,” he said.

Forging business ties is another focus area: Members from the UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) met with top officials during their visit to Manipal Life Center for Life Sciences (MLSC) and Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MCOPS) to explore future tie-ups with UK companies.

Dr Bhat hoped that the visit of Felton would not only enhance the prevailing relationships further, but would also support Manipal  University’s efforts to initiate new relationships.

Talking of the existing collaborations, Felton said that some of these collaborations came into existence almost a decade ago, while some partnerships were new.  He added; "The UK produces the highest number of science,  mathematics and computing graduates annually in the EU, and the highest number of ICT graduates. ICT in the UK is a £140  billion market and the UK is Europe's leading market for software and IT services".

About the research and development Felton said, "We have a long and successful research and development record – 80 per cent of the UK's largest foreign-owned companies undertake more research and development activity in the UK than at home. Again in ICT, software development attracts investment of £930 million per annum in research and development from international businesses," he added.

UKIERI Funding

Manipal University and University of Nottingham's partnerships operate across a range of disciplines and activities. Since the initial signing of and MoU in 2010, the two institutions have worked closely to develop a multi-disciplinary, multi-faceted institutional partnership, he added.

The two universities share a strong commitment to research. University of Nottingham has hosted two Manipal faculty - one from Engineering, the other from Medicine - during the summer of 2011 for three-month fully-funded research fellowships.  In November 2011, Nottingham University and Manipal Life Sciences Centre obtained UKIERI funding to develop a split-site PhD in Life Sciences, which is under development.

In December 2011, the two universities received funding from the British Council's 'Knowledge Economy Partnership' scheme to run a major joint conference in Delhi.  The event took place in June 2012, focussing on the development of international teaching partnerships from the perspective not only of higher education institutions, but also government and industry.

Manipal University along with Sheffield Hallam University has also won a project (understanding the pedagogic process) under the UKIERI's staff Exchange Programme.

In addition to this list, researchers from Manipal are currently working with research counterparts in University of Cambridge,
University of Warwick and Middlesex University.

Manipal University is likely to sign agreements with University of Birmingham (medical studies) and University of Coventry (Serious gaming) in the near future.

-- List of MU affiliates and their respective links to UK universities

A: International Center for Applied Science (ICAS)
1.       City University, London
2.       Lancaster University
3.       Sheffield Hallam University
4.       University of Leicester
5.       The University of Nottingham
6.       Edinburgh Napier University
Nature of Collaboration: Undergraduate twinning programme

B: Manipal Center for Information Sciences (MCIS):
1.       Lancaster University
2.       Edinburgh Napier University
Nature of Collaboration: Dual Degree programmes

C: Welcomegroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration (WGSHA):
1.    University College of Birmingham, Birmingham
Nature of Collaboration: Internships

D: Manipal College of Allied Health Sciences (MCOAHS):
1.    Robert Gordon University
Nature of Collaboration: Dual Degree

E: Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MCOPS)
1.    Edinburgh Napier
Nature of Collaboration: Dual Degree programme

F: Manipal Institute of Communication (MIC)
1. Birmingham Institute of Art and Design
2. University of Central England, Birmingham (UK)
Nature of Collaboration: Faculty exchange