Nauni and Western Sydney varsities to partner for dual degree programmes

Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Western Sydney University (WSU), Australia. The two universities will partner in offering dual-degrees BSc, MSc and doctorate programmes for enhancing students' employability, skill, exposure and understanding of technology-based horticulture, forestry, biotechnology and food technology. The MoU was signed today between Prof. Rajeshwar Singh Chandel, UHF Vice Chancellor and Prof. Barney Glover, WSU Vice-Chancellor at Western Sydney University.

The partnership will also see both universities work together to explore the feasibility of collaborative research projects; joint activities such as conferences, seminars, symposia and lectures; joint publications and other scholarly activities; joint academic programmes and joint curricula and opportunities for academic staff and student mobility, etc.

The MoU was signed during the ongoing visit of two-member UHF delegation led by Prof. Chandel to the Hawkesbury campus of WSU at Richmond, New South Wales, Australia. He is being accompanied by Prof. KK Raina, Principal Investigator of NAHEP IDP.

The visit is part of the high-level delegation meeting which also includes a senior delegation from NABARD including Chairman KV Shaji, ICAR officials, along with Vice Chancellors of several State Agricultural Universities, senior officials from WSU, and government representatives.

The ongoing visit encompassed discussions on advancing research, capacity building, and training in climate-smart and hi-tech agriculture in both India and Australia. The focused meeting on prioritised areas will be useful to identify critical initiatives and gaps in precision agriculture, low-emission carbon farming, big data in agriculture, and data analytics. During the visit, the delegation attended a workshop on climate-smart agriculture, carbon farming to ensure resilient farming systems. This workshop included discussion and presentations by distinguished scientists from WSU on research programs aligning research priorities in climate-smart agriculture, carbon farming, data analytics, etc.

The delegation also discussed opportunities and programmes for promoting innovative and feasible projects to enhance production and productivity in agriculture and allied sectors.

Field visits to Sustainable Development Goals and carbon credit accounting at the Richmond campus, visit to the WSU launch pad and a tour of WSU finance and trading lab are also a part of the visit.

Discussions on potential opportunities for WSU and State Agricultural Universities to partner with NABARD in areas like climate-smart and hi-tech agriculture, low emission carbon farming to ensure resilient farming systems and entrepreneurship.