Future Centre for Indian Studies at Queen’s University Belfast

India (SANEPR.com) September 11, 2008 -- The establishment of a new Centre for Contemporary Indian Studies at Queen’s University Belfast was one of the main topics of discussion at an event held in the House of Lords, London.
The event, hosted by Lord Rana, Honorary Consul for India in Northern Ireland, was attended by representatives of Queen’s University Belfast and other key stakeholders.
The new Centre at Queen’s will be a bridge between Indian science, culture and society, the University and the entire Queen’s community in Northern Ireland.
To be launched formally in the summer of 2009, there is a commitment to endow a chair in Ghandian Studies within the Institute.
Speaking at the House of Lords event, Professor Peter Gregson, Vice-Chancellor of Queen’s said: “India is the second largest source of Foreign Direct Investment in Northern Ireland, creating more than 3,000 jobs. Queen’s University hopes to further its links with India. These plans have drawn heavily on Lord Rana’s energy, enthusiasm and proactive commitment and we thank him for that”.
“In the last two years, we have established an Indian Lecture Series and established a partnership between the University’s centre for Cancer Research and the National Institute of Immunology in Delhi. Next year we will have a staff exchange programme with Jarawahl Nehru University (JNU). And, just last month, our partnership with the Bengal and Engineering and Science University (BESU) resulted in 20 undergraduates from that University working on electronic engineering research projects at Queen’s”.
“Later this year I will be visiting India to consolidate and develop our key partnerships. In developing its links with India, I can assure you that Queen’s University will not be standing still.”
Next month will see ten students from Queen’s School of English travel to the University of Hyderabad for a period of four weeks. Further information on the scheme can be found at http://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/SchoolofEnglish/
Queen’s University also recently honoured Madurai-born Dr Chitra Bharucha at its recent summer graduation. Dr Bharucha has lived in Northern Ireland since 1972 and was presented with an Honorary Doctorate for services to medicine and for public service (DMedSc).
Dr Bharucha’s conferment can be viewed online at http://www.qub.ac.uk/home/Graduation/HonoraryGraduates2008/DrChitraBharucha/

About Queen’s University

Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland is a member of the prestigious Russell Group of top 20 research-intensive universities in the United Kingdom.

Queen's has more than 17,000 students from over 80 countries, 3,500 staff and 100,000 graduates worldwide. More than 20 of its courses are cited in The London Times top 20 universities by subject area.

The University is located in Belfast, one of the world's safest cities in which to live and one of the regions in the United Kingdom with the lowest living costs. It hosts the annual internationally acclaimed Belfast Festival and has also hosted the Gandhi, King, Ikeda Peace builders’ international Exhibition.

ECIT is a £40 million world-class research centre with a unique focus on blue skies, strategic and industrial research projects. It is a symbol of Northern Ireland's emergence as a centre of excellence in advance digital technology.

Located in the Northern Ireland Science Park, ECIT demonstrates the University's commitment to developing research for economic benefit. Its four research clusters cover areas such as broadband wireless communications, electronic data security, image and speech processing, telecommunications software and antenna design for mobile communications.

Northern Ireland offers a friendly environment for all its international guests, is easily accessible from anywhere in the world and is only one hour by plane from London.

The University has a record of achievement in frontline research, first-class education and a commitment to internationalization. Queen's is currently investing over $500 million in its staff, students and infrastructure to develop a community of world-class academics and students.



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