The Scottish Connection

Updated on: Friday, December 16, 2011

What prompted the institute to come up with the Reach for the Stars competition specifically for Indian students?

We decided on India because we had to choose one market - we have had a long relationship with India both educating and more recently with research collaboration between Strathclyde engineering and India. We wanted to showcase all the interesting and life-enhancing things that are done at Strathclyde both by students as well as our staff.

Is the competition open to students from across streams or is it restricted to engineering students?

The competition is restricted to students of Engineering and students from any branch of Engineering can apply. The prize is really only suitable for students of Engineering.

What is the one thing you are looking for in participants/ their work that could turn them in winners?

We are looking for creativity, originality and flair and something that stands out from the crowd. A three-minute presentation is short so it needs to be concise and to the point.

Unlike their Scottish counterparts, Indian institutes hardly focus on research activities. What do you think can be done to change this?

This is changing particularly in the area of engineering and science. The institutions themselves have to place emphasis on the importance of research and working with active research collaborators such as Strathclyde will do a lot of increase research output.

How do you think can institutes in India and Scotland boost their academic relations?

Exchanges of staff and students will do much for academic relations. Research collaboration is vitally important and at Strathclyde Engineering we have a number of high level research collaborations such as the UKIERI initiatives which can include the training of research (doctoral) students.

How do you see Indian students faring in the international recruitment segment with fears of another slowdown setting in?

Despite the slowdown in the economy, engineering graduates are still highly employable - particularly in areas such as renewable energy. If the current slowdown becomes a world depression, then I guess that the situation might alter for all of us. Given the international nature of business my advice to graduates is not to confine the search for employment locally but to think globally.
Courtesy: Myeducationtimes.com

Times of India

The Scottish Connection

More Education news