By TCN News,
New Delhi: The University of Heidelberg from Germany and Ecole Normale Superieure (ENS) from France have sought to enter into academic collaborations with Jamia Millia Islamia. Two separate academic delegations called on the Vice-Chancellor Prof. S.M. Sajid on February 25, 2014 to explore possibilities of tie-ups aimed at mutual strengthening of premiere institutions through MoUs.
Prof. Axel Michaels, a noted scholar of Indology and Religious Studies, led the delegation from the University of Heidelberg to discuss Faculty Exchange Programme, short-term Student Exchange opportunities at the Ph.D level, joint workshops/conferences/events/research cooperation in the ensuing academic year and organization of joint Winter School in 2014. It was agreed upon that scholars who would bring new ideas to the academic programs would be encouraged to foster academic and cultural interactions. There was complete unanimity to keep the academic interface and Student Exchange Programme informed by flexibility and openness.
Dr. Isabelle from Ecole Normale Superieure showed keenness to invite students from Jamia Millia Islamia to ENS. She focused on joint research and both Faculty and Student Exchange Programmes. She spoke of opportunities at ENS for international students to get scholarships for 2-3 years of their study with no burden of paying tuition fees that would allow them to cope with the academic rigour. The delegation highlighted the scope of joint collaborations in the domains of Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences.
Both the delegations were informed about the academic strengths of Jamia Millia Islamia and the accomplishments of various departments and centres in the areas of pedagogy and research. They have shown their inclinations for abiding academic collaborations through Memoranda of Understanding. Jamia Millia Islamia has decided to scale up its engagements with these premiere institutions by becoming a partner university building through mutual trust.
The University of Heidelberg, which was founded in 1386, is the oldest university in Germany and is ranked as a German Excellence University. The ENS, founded in 1793 after the French Revolution and reorganized by Napoleon, is an elite institution that symbolizes the independence of mind. Jamia Millia Islamia, which takes pride in its own Nationalist history, has demonstrated keenness to explore all possibilities of academic collaborations with the two globally reputed academic institutions.