THE COCHIN University of Science and Technology (Cusat) is formulating new programmes to strengthen it's academic ties with foreign universities. Cusat has been collaborating with foreign universities in programmes such as student-teacher exchanges and academic research. As part of this, the university is now working out an academic programme with Cantho University, Vietnam.

  This programme is part of the academic initiative by the Southern Universities Network (SUN). Cusat is an active member of the network that was formed to solicit funds for participating universities.

  A teachers' training programme will be initiated in the first phase. The training programme is expected to begin next month. The network will also promote regional resource centres in Asia, Africa and the Pacific to exchange expertise in respective regions.

  Under the agreement with the Kochi University, Japan, the Department of Marine Geology of Cusat is working on a new project. Kochi University and Cusat will also organise exchange programmes. Members of the faculty and students will be also part of this exchange programme.

  Research programmes between the university departments with funding either from the Kochi University or external funding agencies in Japan will also be initiated. The areas of interest of the Kochi University include Marine Sciences, other science programmes, environmental science, engineering and law. Cultural exchanges will be another highlight.

  Research work in areas ranging from earthquake prediction and control to marine resources will be carried out by the participating universities. Both the universities will exchange academic materials and publications.

  Meanwhile, the new batch of foreign students under the Brethren Colleges Abroad (BCA) programme will join the university soon. The recruitment process for the science programme between Cusat and BCA is progressing. Under the agreement, both the universities will work on areas like Estuarine Ecology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Genetics, Environmental issues, Marine Geology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Pre-engineering, Statistics and Bio-Statistics.

  The varsities will also focus on post-graduate research. The science programme will be primarily focussed on the Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry, Department of Biotechnology and School of Environmental Studies of Cusat.

  The exchange programme with Groupe Sup de co Montpellier, France, has laid emphasis on academic programmes in the field of management as part of the agreement. The international exchange programme between Cusat and Sup de co Montpellier, began in 1999. Cusat has sent students for the Ph.D. programme on Photonics offered by the Eindhoven University, Netherlands. It is working on initiating joint research programmes with various educational institutions in Europe and South East Asia.

  The first phase of academic programmes with the University of Bergen, Norway, Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Centre (NERSC), Norway and Nansen Environmental Research Centre, India, is going on at the university. Joint research projects in the field of Marine Sciences will be initiated under the programme. In the next stage, there will be exchange of graduate students and under graduate students in Marine Sciences.

  From senior police officers to income tax officials, the evening batch of law students had students from all walks of life. Computer professionals, officials from departments like the Kerala State Electricity Board, Public Works Department, labour, sales tax, were part of this evening batch. It also had Central Government employees and businessmen.

  The L.L.B programme for this evening batch began on December 15, 1999 at the Cochin University. Classes were led by experts in the field of legal education.

  Justice R. Basant of the Kerala High court delivered the keynote address at the farewell meeting. D. Rajeev, director and course coordinator of School of Legal Studies, the former directors, P. Leelekrishnan and G. Sadasivan Nair, V.S. Sebastian, former course coordinator, and M. Marcus, guest faculty, spoke.

Courtesy : The Hindu