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Interview

“Diverse partners across India” breaking research, teaching, and
policy advice and offers Masters and
Ph D programmes through corre-
An alumnus of Osmania, Hyderabad spondence and on-campus classes.
and Cambridge (UK) universities
and founder-chairman of Cobra How deep is the engagement of the Uni-
Beer Partnership Ltd, a premier versity of Birmingham with India? What
brewing company in the UK, India- are your major initiatives and collabora-
born Lord Karan Bilimoria CBE, tions in India?
DL, is chancellor of the University of We have signed research col-
Birmingham (UoB), UK — a Russell laboration agreements with diverse
Group (i.e, research-intensive) partners across India to develop
varsity. Sarah Berry interviewed solutions in the fields of health,
him in Delhi. Excerpts: urbanisation and energy, among
others. For instance, in the area of
You are visiting India as chancellor of UoB. medical surgery we have partnered
What are the main objectives of this visit with India to develop low-cost, af-
to India? fordable innovations in surgical care
UoB is one of the Top 100 universi- for patients in developing countries.
ties of the world, according to the Moreover, since Delhi is ranked
QS World University Rankings the world’s most polluted national
2020. Our India connection dates capital by WHO, UoB researchers are
back to 1909 when we welcomed working with IIT-Delhi to under-
the first students from India to our stand the causes and levels of poor
Edgbaston campus. Since then, ways, one of the largest rail networks air quality in India’s major cities and
more than 1,000 Indian alumni have in the world. Therefore, this partner- find practical solutions to address
been awarded degrees by UoB with ship has huge potential for learning this challenge. Moreover, our Prof.
many having had illustrious careers and exchanges. Our UoB Centre for Philip Davies, a leading authority
in government, industry and the Railway Research and Education is on water purity and recycling, is
professions. proud to work closely and collabora- collaborating with India for a project
The prime objective of my visit to tively with the Indian Railways. titled India H2O, to find solutions for
India is to nurture existing relation- addressing critical water shortages
ships and partnerships and build The University of Birmingham traces its in rural India and ways and means to
new ones across diverse sectors — origins to the Mason College (1843), a cleanse and recycle water.
with alumni, government, education pioneer in medical education in the UK.
institutions and Indian industry. How satisfied are you with the modernisa- You have had a successful career in busi-
UoB is scheduled to sign partner- tion and contemporisation of UoB? ness and industry. How deep is the con-
ship agreements with Punjab Sports In UoB, we believe that continuous nect between UoB and British industry?
University, Patiala and the National innovation and preparedness for We have a proud history of working
Sports University, Manipur. Both industry and technology changes with British industry since 1900. In
partnerships will include an active are essential. Our university campus UoB, we believe in building partner-
exchange of knowhow covering a has beautiful old buildings but also a ships that impact and transform
wide range of areas including sports very modern library that seamlessly businesses as this is vital for sustain-
nutrition, physiotherapy, psychology integrates high-tech with old world able national growth and develop-
and performance evaluation. In UoB, learning and houses 1.8 million ment. Over the past century and
we have a state-of-the-art sports and volumes. Similarly, our sports and more, UoB had worked closely with
fitness centre, set up with a budget of fitness education centre is among industry to develop responsible busi-
£55 million (Rs.477 crore) to provide the world’s best. Ditto our Centre of ness practices, bring lifesaving medi-
excellent sports and fitness educa- Excellence for Evolving Engineering cines and technologies to market and
tion. These partnership agreements Education Research… I could go on to develop greener and more efficient
will enable the two Indian sports giving many other examples. There- energy sources. Moreover, UoB was
universities to contemporise their fore, I am very satisfied. the first university in the UK to offer
curriculums and infrastructure and a degree in commerce to help create
produce world champions in the The University of Birmingham also has an a productive and innovative work-
near future. International Development Department. force for British industry.
Another high-potential partner- What are the objectives of IDD? Currently, I am vice president of
ship we will be signing is with the The main objective of the IDD is to CBI (Confederation of British In-
National Rail and Transportation facilitate research to design re- dustries) and scheduled to take over
Institute, Vadodara, India’s sole sponses to global challenges across as president in June. As president,
logistics university to modernise its a breadth of interests, and to bridge it will be my endeavour to further
curriculum, especially in the areas of ideas and practice. It’s pertinent that strengthen partnerships between
signalling and simulation. This in- the university’s IDD has over half UoB, British universities and UK Inc
stitute is a subsidiary of Indian Rail- a century of experience in ground- with India.

96 EDUCATIONWORLD APRIL 2020