University of Essex, named the UK’s University of the Year in the Times Higher Education Awards and a gold rated institution in UK’s Teaching Excellence Framework, has recently signed an agreement with the Delhi NCR based GD Goenka University to collaborate over a wide range of research and academic activities.

The collaboration will focus on areas of research, staff and student mobility, and progression arrangements for G D Goenka University students to the University of Essex at postgraduate and undergraduate level.

This includes supervisor training and development, education and curriculum development, student exchanges and training, academic and administrative staff exchanges and study tours, summer schools and the possibility of joint PhD programmes.

Both the institutions have a strong tradition of excellence in research and education which will be harnessed through this relationship.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Professor Anthony Forster, vice-chancellor, University of Essex and Prof. Suku Bhaskaran, president, GD Goenka University.

Also present on the occasion were Vanessa Potter, director, communications and international relations, Sally Day, international partnership officer, University of Essex, along with G D Goenka University’s pro vice-chancellor, Prof. Sanjeevi Shanthakumar, registrar Dr. Nitesh Bansal, deans of various schools and other staff members.

On the occasion, Prof. Forster, “My visit to India was a chance to talk about strengthening ties with India following the UK’s departure from the EU.

“I’m delighted that we had the opportunity to sign an MOU with G D Goenka University to develop education and research partnerships with a university which shares our commitment to education and research.”

Prof. Bhaskaran said, “The senior team of GD Goenka University was delighted and honoured to welcome the University of Essex delegation headed by the University’s president/vice chancellor, Prof. Anthony Forster.

“G D Goenka University is one of the rapidly emerging universities in India. We consider the engagement with the University of Essex to be one of our very special international alliances.”

As part of its India engagement, the University of Essex (UoE) has forged strategic academic and research alliances with some of the leading institutions in India. This includes signing MOUs with Amity University, G D Goenka University, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and Vellore Institute of Technology.

During his visit to India, Prof. Forster also visited OP Jindal University and Jamia Millia Islamia University in New Delhi and the Indian Institute of Science, Jain University and Christ University in Bangalore.