Deakin India research initiative

Updated on: Monday, September 07, 2009

To strengthen its research activities and partnerships in India, Deakin University, Australia, recently announced the launch of the Deakin India Research Initiative (DIRI).

Having identified four core areas — advanced materials, metal and metallurgy, biotechnology and nanotechnology; and intelligent systems, Deakin, along with Indian institutions, will jointly identify projects and accordingly, students would undertake research. They would be registered as PhD students at Deakin.

Students would be shortlisted based on their academic record and prior research experience besides various other parameters. Currently, eight students have been identified and the number is likely to go up to 20-25 by the end of the year. The tenure of these research projects is three and a half years, out of which a student will spend over two years in India and the remaining time in Australia.

DIRI would be operating out of Deakin’s India office in New Delhi and would be responsible for supporting collaborative research programmes for students largely based out of India and will be co-supervised by Deakin and the Indian partner.

Some of its partner companies include Biocon and BigTec in Bangalore, TERI in Delhi, Vimta in Hyderabad, Tata Steel in Jamshedpur, among others. Among educational institutions, it has partnered with five IITs besides Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology and Indian Institute of Chemical Technology based in Hyderabad.

“We will be collaborating with Indian companies, research institutions and universities to train PhD students in India who are ready to take on the challenges of the future,” said Peter Hodgson, director of research, ARC Federation Fellow, Deakin University, Australia.

The aim is to produce industry-ready students, said Lee Astheimer, deputy vice-chancellor (research), Deakin University. She elaborated: “Through our partnerships, we aim to focus on internships, student and faculty exchanges, study tours, seminars and workshops, enrolment at Deakin University, among others.”

Recently, the delegation from Deakin was in the Capital for the graduation ceremony of 60 Indian students. The delegation comprised Sally Walker, vice-chancellor, Robin Buckham, deputy vice-chancellor (international and development), Lee Astheimer, deputy vice-chancellor (research), Brian McGaw, dean, faculty of science and technology and Gael McDonald, dean, faculty of business and law and Ravneet Pawha, country director, Deakin India, among others.

Deakin started a medical school last year. On the new specialisations that the university plans to launch, McGaw informs: “We have plans to introduce a specialisation in engineering management which will have an interdisciplinary approach equipping students with the skills of not only engineering but also management. Also, we plan to start a degree in pharmacy and optometry by 2011.” As regards its scholarships, September 15 is the last date for applying for the December scholarships every year.

Timesofindia

Deakin India research initiative

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