KOCHI: New opportunities are unfolding before students of the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) for better academic exposure, with the varsity mooting a tie-up with UK-based Bournemouth University (BU), for academic and research exchange programmes.
At a preliminary discussion here on Thursday between Bournemouth University Centre for Ecology director Adrian Pinder, KUFOS Vice-chancellor B Madhusoodana Kurup and other top officials, it was decided to forge a tie-up between the two varsities for joint research projects and academic programmes.
As per the preliminary agreement, KUFOS will start offering P G Diploma programmes in Environment Impact Assessment and Biotelemetry. After doing first part of the course at KUFOS, the students have an option to pursue the last six months of the programme at the BU.
Besides, KUFOS and the Bournemouth University will jointly organise workshops and training programmes on relevant subjects identified by them. Under the tie-up, faculty exchange programmes and consultancy research works are also planned.
Adrian Pinder said the Bournemouth University would take every necessary step to forge a meaningful collaboration with the KUFOS in the areas of ecological studies and fishery research.
“We are already having tie-up with four Indian universities, including JNU, and IIM-Kozhikode,” he said.
Madhusoodana Kurup said the university was ready to launch specialised programmes aimed at global exposure. “Academic and research exchange programmes will definitely help strengthen fisheries and marine education in the country,” he said.
At the next meeting, formalities for executing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two universities will be outlined. BU Science and Technology executive dean Christine Maggs will represent the BU at the next meeting.
KUFOS Pro-vice-chancellor K Padmakumar, Registrar V M Victor George, controller of examinations Muraleedharan Nair, research director K V Jayachandran, director of extension Daisy C Kappen, Rajeev Raghavan and directors of various schools under the KUFOS attended the meeting.