By IANS
London : A memorandum of understanding to set up an India Business Centre was inked between the University of Oxford and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here Tuesday, taking the long-standing relations between the renowned academic institution and India to a new high.
The MoU was signed by John Hood, vice chancellor of the University of Oxford, and Sunil Bharti Mittal, president of the CII. The centre will be located in India and in Oxford. The CII will collaborate with the Said Business School, which is part of the university, to set up the centre.
Hood said: "The primary objective of this research centre is to learn from India's business success – for the issues faced by India are a microcosm of those in the world. A clear understanding of these issues and their innovative solutions, as India transitions from poverty to prosperity, will form a guide to future generations of countries attempting similar transitions."
Said Business School dean Colin Mayer added: "I am delighted that this MoU is being signed between the Said Business School and the CII. The purpose of the Centre is to address major business policy questions in India through collaborative research between academics in Oxford and in India and to engage practitioners and policymakers actively in formulating a research agenda that will be relevant and significant."
Mittal said the link between CII and Oxford University's India Business Centre represented a milestone in building bridges between British academic institutions and Indian business.
Lt. Gen. S.S. Mehta, director general, CII added: "One of the main objectives of the MoU will be to access and develop competence in undertaking high quality industrial research for the benefit of policy makers, institutions and the corporate sector in India as well as the UK."
Areas of engagement between the CII and the proposed Centre will include stimulation of dialogue on highly relevant policy debates on the Indian economy and the identification and promotion of ideas that will help support the Centre's activities across the business community in India.
Established in 1996, the Said Business School is one of Europe's newest and fastest growing institutes. An integral part of Oxford University, the school embodies the academic rigour and forward thinking that has made Oxford a world leader in education.
The school has an established reputation for research in a wide range of areas, including finance and accounting, organisational analysis, international management, strategy and operations management.
The school is dedicated to developing a new generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs and conducting research not only into the nature of business, but the connections between business and the wider world.