Deakin’s ongoing relationship with India has been strengthened through a new partnership with global engineering firm Cyient, which will open cross-cultural doors for students in both countries.
As part of the new agreement, Cyient will be a linkage between Deakin University’s School of Engineering and the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, providing opportunity for joint research projects, study exchange opportunities and industry-student projects.
Head of School of Engineering Professor Guy Littlefair said the partnership was symbolic of the strength of the relationship between Deakin and India, which began 21 years ago.
Professor Littlefair today joined Cyient Senior Vice President and APAC Head Sanjay Krishnaa in Melbourne to formalise the new agreement with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
“Deakin has a long and proud history with India and over the past two decades we have committed over AUD$10 million to research initiatives in the country, with 20 strategic academic partners, 20 research partners and 15 corporate partnerships,” Professor Littlefair said.
“We have strong roots in India and we are proud that Cyient, a leading engineering and network solutions company, has chosen us as its first Australian university to work with.
“This is symbolic of the strong links we have in the rapidly-growing power that is India, and of the support we can in turn provide to Indian corporations in forging links here.”
Professor Littlefair said the partnership would include joint research opportunities, training and skill development.
Krishnaa said the collaboration was a major milestone for Deakin and Cyient, taking the relationship between the two organisations to the next level.
“Cyient has a number of signed MoUs with leading universities in India, but Deakin is the first Australian university that Cyient will be collaborating with at this level,” Mr Krishna said.
“We look forward to working with Deakin in further developing advanced manufacturing and medical sciences engineering in Australia.”
Deakin’s association with India first began in 1994 through a joint venture with the Australian Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers to offer management programs through distance learning.
In 1996, Deakin became the first university in the world to set up an office in India.
“We now have 50,649 students studying at Deakin, including more than 8,000 international students from 127 countries, including more than 1,100 from India.”