Canada's world-famous Carleton University is set to sign memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with various Indian educational institutions during the visit of it president and vice-chancellor to India next week. Ottawa-based Carleton is the only university in the world to have a full-fledged India-centric Centre of Excellence in Science, Technology, Trade and Policy to raise awareness about bilateral studies and public diplomacy, and develop initiatives to build a better understanding of both countries. University president Roseann Runte, who is leaving for India on Friday, told the sources she would meet top Indian academics and sign MoUs with various institutions during her five-day visit which takes her to Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad. “We will sign MoUs with Jindal Global University near Delhi, Jai Hind College under Mumbai University, IIT Mumbai and Petroleum University. These MoUs are geared towards exchange of faculties, students and interns, joint research and programmes, and conducting joint degree courses,'' she said. During her visit to Hyderabad, Dr Runte would also meet the president of the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute which is a bi-national organization that promotes understanding between India and Canada through academic activities and exchanges. Dr Runte, who is going to India at the invitation of the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Hyderabad campus, to be their guest at their cultural celebrations February 10, said she would also meet representatives of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) to discuss joint initiatives with them. “We may sign an MoU with FICCI on internships, conferences and sharing information among businesses in the two countries,” she said. Apart from meeting government officials in Delhi, Dr Runte would also call on Sam Pitroda, chairman of the National Innovation Council, to invite him for the excellence summit to be held at Carleton University in June as part of the Year of India in Canada. “Probably, Mr Pitroda is not in India next week, but I call on his office and formally invite him for the June summit,” she said.
