Thapar University builds on research, inks MoU with leading US varsity

TU, University of Missouri-Kansas City will conduct joint research, exchange programmes for faculty, research scholars, dual workshops on latest technological developments, non-degree executive programmes

 

Mumbai, September 13, 2013: In yet another foreign collaboration in the field of research, Thapar University, ranked among India’s leading engineering institutes, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC).

A public research university located in Kansas City, Missouri, USA, UMKC has been ranked number one in the world for innovation management research by the Journal of Product Innovation Management. The university had enrolled 16,019 students last year.

As per the agreement, signed between Thapar University director Dr KK Raina and curators of University of Missouri on behalf of University of Missouri-Kansas City, the two universities will conduct joint research and educational activities at both graduate and postgraduate levels within the mutually designed fields of study. The areas of cooperation and collaboration include joint research proposals, joint research guidance at postgraduate and PhD level, dual workshops on latest technological developments, non-degree executive programmes and cultural exchange. The two universities will also conduct exchange programmes for the faculty, research scholars and graduate students through lectures, conferences, and symposia.

“This MoU reaffirms our commitment to take research to the next level through strategic tie-ups with leading foreign universities. We have tied up with many reputed institutes abroad, like the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia, University of Waterloo, Canada and Brown University, USA for student and faculty exchange programmes. We are collaborating with them in a number of fields like information technology, civil engineering and biotechnology. We had signed an MoU in the field of biotechnology with ISA Group Lille, France about six months ago, under which the Indian and French governments would offer scholarships to more than 100 students,” said Thapar University Dean (Resource Planning and Generation) Dr RS Kaler.

Stating that Thapar University had also signed an agreement with Trinity College, University of Dublin, Ireland, university director Dr KK Raina said two faculty members of the civil engineering department of Thapar University were part of the Ireland–India Concrete Research Initiative, in which Trinity College was also involved. “We are in the process of finalising a joint research project, which will be sent to funding agencies for research grant. The civil engineering departments of the two institutes are also working on starting a dual degree programme. By matching their strengths, domestic and foreign universities can develop a better curriculum and build a team of skilled faculty,” he said.

 

About Thapar University

Thapar University, founded in 1956, is housed in a 250-acre campus in Patiala, Punjab. In 1985, it was awarded the status of a deemed university, and from then on took a quantum jump with focus on research and development, along with the need to adapt to the changing needs of the industry and the delivery of state-of-the-art technical and engineering education in India. In 2007, the LM Thapar School of Management was inaugurated. It has evolved over the years to provide management education conducive to the dynamic business environment.

Thapar University is committed to developing high quality, professionally groomed technical and engineering manpower possessing multifaceted personality with respect for professional and social ethics, national values and the spirit of human emancipation. Thapar University believes in providing opportunities to students to broaden their horizons and develop cross-cultural perspectives enabling them to engage in the adventure of learning and discovery.

Since its inception, nearly 16,000 students have graduated from the university and proceeded to achieve greater heights in their professional careers. The alumni have excelled in varied fields such as business and industry, administrative and regulatory services, research and education and social and human rights organizations. Thapar University is committed to contributing to the country’s progress in the field of higher education. The students from Thapar University have found top placements in India and abroad. World-renowned companies include Google Inc., Adobe, Yahoo, Microsoft, Amazon, D C Shaw, Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, UOP Ltd. L&T, Fidelity Investments, Deloitte, Nomura Software, etc visit the university on a regular basis.

Thapar University has created new synergies and enabled opportunities for exchange, dual-degree programmes with overseas universities and established research centres and industrial corporations. Some of the international universities with tie-ups with Thapar University include University of Waterloo, Canada, New Jersey Institute of Technology, USA, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Rose Bruford College for Theatre and Performance, University De Aveiro (UA), Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, ISA Group Lille, France, Brown University, USA. Both reputed Indian and international companies are associated with Thapar University for research as well as faculty exchange programmes. These include Intel, Microsoft, Wipro, and Sun, to name a few. Thapar University also has collaborations with various government organizations, including Department of Information Technology, Government of India, Central Scientific Instruments Organization, Chandigarh, Institute for Himalayan Biotechnology, Palampur, and Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun.

Thapar University is also engaged in quality research and consultancy activities. During the last five years, the faculty has published over 2,000 research papers in peer reviewed impact factors journals. In 2012, Thapar University published 316 SCI journal papers. These papers have been cited worldwide and are comparable with the top Indian universities. The faculty has filed 12 patents and the university has 119 ongoing projects with grants of Rs 25.72 crore.

Thapar University is ranked amongst the best worldwide. It is accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council of the UGC as “A” grade among all Indian universities. All its undergraduate programmes are accredited by the National Board of Accreditation. It emerged as the only engineering institute north of Delhi to figure in the list of top 25 engineering colleges released by India Today for 2013. While Thapar University secured the 18th rank in the India Today survey, it was rated as 6th in the category of Top Engineering Colleges of Super Excellence in the Global Human Resource Development Centre (GHRDC)-Competition Success Review (CSR) Engineering College Survey for 2013. Furthermore, the university got the 2nd rank in the GHRDC-CSR survey for top private engineering colleges in India.

 

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