National Research Foundation will democratise research excellence in

India: Experts

a powerhouse of talent resides in our leading academic institutions and it's time the country utilises it in solving the country's problems. "NRF can be the vehicle that can put India on the world map as far as deep-technology research and innovation are concerned," he said.

New Delhi, July 8 (IANS) ViceChancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia Najma Akhtar, during a programme organised by the varsity, spoke on harassment cases and various other challenges young girls and women face daily. She also emphasised the need for gender equality and women empowerment.

The programme was organised in association with Yuva Foundation.

The guests during the informal session of the programme were Navya Naveli Nanda and Nikhil

Taneja. On the occasion, the guests held a penal discussion on different aspects linked to harassment and gender sensitisation. A session on five 5D model methodology to combat street harassment was also demonstrated by experts. The Yuva Foundation said: "We firmly believe that education is the foundation for personal growth and the gateway to a better future. Yuva Foundation has established scholarships and educational grants to support deserving students who face financial barriers in pursuing their academic dreams. Through these scholarships, we aim to enable young minds to reach their full potential and become catalysts for change in their communities."

New Delhi, July 9 (IANS) The government's move to set up the Rs 50,000 crore National Research Foundation (NRF) will deliver the much-needed boost to research by broadening the focus beyond the few government funded higher education institutions, experts said on Sunday. The Union Cabinet last month approved the introduction of the NRF Bill, 2023, in the Parliament, which will pave the way to establish the body that will seed, grow and promote research and development (R&D) across universities. According to experts, India's gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) as a percentage of GDP has stagnated at 0.7 per cent for about a decade.

Among the BRICS nations, GERD for India is even lower than Brazil (1.16 per cent) and South Africa (0.83 per cent). "Only Mexico (0.31 per cent) had a lower share of GERD as a percentage of GDP.

India's gross expenditure on research and development (R&D) is one of the lowest in the world, with just $43 per capita, according to NITI Aayog's India Innovation Index 2021," Chocko Valliappa, Vice Chairman, Sona group of Education Institutions, Salem in Tamil Nadu, told IANS.

The NRF, he added, promises to unleash the vast potential of India's youth and uncover pockets of excellence in the higher education institutions in technology, sciences, arts, social sciences.

"The NRF also hopes to correct the imbalance in research funding that the unaided institutions have faced despite showing promising research outcomes," he noted.

The most redeeming feature of the NRF is the inclusion of the private sector as a majority contributor to the NRF funds, estimated to be Rs 36,000 crore over five years.

Prof V Ramgopal Rao, Pillay Chair Professor in the department of electrical engineering and former director of IIT Delhi, wrote in an article in The Times of India that

As per data from the National Science Foundation USA, India ranks third in the world for both scientific publications as well as for the number of PhD students.

"While this is good, India's rank of 9th in citations, 6th in patent filings and 40th for innovation are a matter of concern. In terms of the percentage of GDP, India’s spending on research and development is among the lowest in the world," Prof Rao wrote. Thus, the decision to set up a Rs 50,000 crore NRF gives wings to the government’s trust and confidence in the power of research to solve the problems of humanity.

"In fact, it broadens the scope well beyond science and technology to social sciences, arts and humanities," said Valliappa. The NRF will be funded by both the private sector and the government is groundbreaking as both stakeholders will have a skin in the game with the private sector bringing in Rs 36,000 crore and the government contributing Rs 14,000 crore, the experts noted.

Lucknow, July 5 (IANS) Students of Lucknow University (LU) will now get more opportunities for international exposure and academic growth. The university has introduced a ‘twinning degree programme’ under which students will get an opportunity to spend some time at a foreign university and get insights into the course they are enrolled to at LU.

According to LU officials, Ramon Llull University, Spain, has already been roped in for the programme and talks with other universities are on.

“The programme is aimed at fostering joint programmes with international universities, promoting mutual exchange of students, and creating multicultural learning environment that enriches educational experience,” LU spokesperson Durgesh Srivastava said.

As per the guidelines drafted for the twinning degree programme, credits earned by students at an international institution (with which LU has an MoU) will be counted towards the degree awarded by LU. However, a maximum of 30 credits from the foreign institution will be added. Students from LU pursuing courses at a foreign institution, and vice versa, will acquire credits through conventional mode. Each institution will issue a transcript with a remark indicating that the student has taken certain modules at the partner institution, wherever applicable. LU will further ensure that there is no overlapping in course content or curriculum for credits earned by its students from foreign higher educational institution.

According to LU officials, the fee structure for the entire duration of the programme, including courses delivered by the foreign institution, will be made transparent during the admission process to provide affordable and accessible quality higher education to all sections of society.

Th university will also provide exit pathways to students who are unable to complete the twinning programme, clearly specifying the acceptance of credits earned in future academic pursuits.

LU vice-chancellor Prof Alok Kumar Rai said, “The twinning degree programme will empower our students to gain international exposure, expand their academic horizons, and develop a global perspective. We are dedicated to ensuring quality education and accessible pathways for all our students.”