The University of Leeds in the UK and the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a Joint Virtual Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Development (VCoE-SD).
This initiative aims to significantly enhance and expand the existing collaboration between the University of Leeds and IIT Madras. Additionally, it will strengthen the current connections between Leeds academics and other Indian universities engaged in sustainable development research.
This agreement represents a major milestone in the collaboration between these two renowned institutions, aimed at advancing knowledge and innovation across various critical fields. The project will create multidisciplinary teams equipped to lead research and innovation in addressing global challenges.
The MoU enables the development of collaborative research projects and the organization of joint academic activities, including courses, conferences, seminars, symposia, and lectures. It also promotes the exchange of research and teaching staff, student placements and exchanges, and the sharing of publications and other materials of mutual interest.
At the signing of the MoU, British Deputy High Commissioner to Chennai, Oliver Ballhatchet MBE, said that it was an honor to witness the MoU signing between IIT Madras and the University of Leeds. This partnership exemplifies how academic and research collaborations between the UK and India can tackle global challenges and create sustainable solutions. As the University of Leeds marks 25 years of engagement in India, this MoU underscores the ongoing commitment to fostering academic excellence and driving progress that benefits both the nations and the world at large.
Professor Vasilis Sarhosis, Chair in Resilient Structures and Infrastructure at the University of Leeds’ School of Civil Engineering, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, said that they are thrilled to collaborate with IIT Madras, a leading institution in technological and scientific research. This partnership highlights their dedication to international collaboration and addressing some of the world’s most urgent issues through joint research and academic exchange. Their goal is to build a self-sustaining network capable of identifying funding opportunities and promoting staff collaboration to conduct high-quality, impactful research and innovation aimed at achieving sustainable development goals. They firmly believe that the interconnected nature of the SDGs should inform and guide national planning strategies and policies. Their transformational vision will initially focus on the UK and India, with plans to expand it globally in the future.
Discussing the partnership, Dr. Satyanarayanan Seshadri, Advisor for Global Partnerships at the Office of Global Engagement, Head of The Energy Consortium at IIT Madras, and faculty member in the Department of Applied Mechanics and Biomedical Engineering at IIT Madras, said that Leeds and IIT Madras both have a strong commitment to research excellence and international collaboration. As an initial step, they have established a virtual collaborative group on various sustainability topics. These faculty-led initiatives are expected to lead to significant researcher mobility, joint Doctoral and Master’s programs, and active involvement in bilateral and multilateral funding opportunities for research and development.
The collaboration between the University of Leeds and IIT Madras is expected to produce groundbreaking research, enhance academic experiences, and expand the global network of experts committed to addressing critical challenges.
