Hisar : In a unique gesture, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar will now be linked closely with National Research Laboratories of repute, to foster higher education and quality research. Prof. Tankeshwar Kumar, Vice-Chancellor said that a meeting of representatives of four universities of northern region and six national laboratories was held at Panjab University, Chandigarh recently after receiving a communiqué from Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to Central Government of India, with an idea to draw upon the expertise at the national laboratories to help expose students and faculty to emerging research areas. The scientists of six National Research labs—Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO), National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI), Centre of Innovative and Applied Bio Processing (CIAB), Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST) and Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL) will now be encouraged to work as ‘adjunct faculty’ in the collaborating universities of the region, he said.
In the meeting regarding ‘Linking of Universities with National Research Laboratories (Northern Region)” with the forum of four universities Panjab University, Chandigarh, Panjabi University, Patiala, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra and Guru Jambheshwar University of Science And Technology, Hisar, it was decided that the collaborating laboratories will frequently organize workshops and seminars to give hands-on-training to the faculty, researchers and students of the universities. One senior scientist or professor will be nominated from each participating institute, who will monitor and manage the activities of the forum. A steering committee, comprising members of all the forum institutes would also be set-up to streamline the activities undertaken by the forum. A list of MoUs signed between the collaborating Universities and National Research Laboratories should be prepared in accordance with the facilities, infrastructure and available resources, said Prof. Tankeshwar Kumar. He opined that research potential is vast and highly untapped and therefore the focus would be on impactful research. Faculty and students of the university would be facilitated to spend time in National Research Laboratories during vacation period. They would also be able to carry out collaborative research projects defined by clear set of rules for sharing IPR and credits duly framed by mutual line of agreement, he said.