Lucknow,

29 May (HS): An important Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed

between the UP government and Australia's prestigious Monash University,

linking the education system of Uttar Pradesh with global excellence. This MoU

will give a new height to the quality of education through research, training

and technical cooperation for students studying and teachers teaching in basic,

secondary and higher educational institutions of the state.

On

this occasion, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that the Uttar Pradesh government

considers education not only as a means of earning a degree, but also as the

axis of the overall development of the state. This partnership will incorporate

quality, innovation and global perspective in the education system of the state

and will prove helpful in preparing the youth for global competition.

Describing this MoU as in line with the spirit of the new National Education

Policy-2020, he said that it will accelerate multidimensional learning, skill

development and international cooperation. Referring to the state's previous

partnership with Western Sydney University, he said that now this alliance with

Monash University is another big step towards global standards of education.

The center of this cooperation will be Gautam Buddha University, which will

play an important role in bringing this partnership to the ground. The Chief

Minister also directed the Vice Chancellor of the University to ensure

successful discharge of this responsibility.

Referring

to India's ancient knowledge tradition, the Chief Minister said that our Vedic

sages had called for Aa no Bhadra: Kratavo Yantu Vishvatah, that

is, let auspicious thoughts come to us from all directions of the world. This

MoU is a modern expression of the same sentiment. He said that the government

is committed to making Uttar Pradesh the 'knowledge capital' and such

partnerships will give the state a leading position on the global education

map. On this occasion, Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh apprised the Chief

Minister of various aspects of the MoU and said that this cooperation will pave

the way for the students and teachers of Uttar Pradesh to connect with

international academic forums. Monash University, established in 1958,

currently has more than 84,000 students studying. It is one of the leading

research-based institutions in the world. The Vice Chancellor of the

University, who is proficient in Hindi language and has developed a deep

socio-cultural understanding during his earlier stay in Bijnor (Uttar Pradesh),

said in a conversation with the Chief Minister that this agreement will take

the relations between India and Australia to a new academic and cultural

dimension. He described it as not just a formal treaty but a new chapter of

intellectual dialogue between two democratic and culturally rich nations.

Former

Delhi University professor and currently associated with Monash University,

Prof. Manisha, who played a key role in giving this agreement a concrete shape,

said that every year about 30,000 teachers are trained at Monash. These

teachers also include teachers from war-torn countries like Afghanistan and

Myanmar. Now teachers of Uttar Pradesh will also be able to access training of

the same level. Describing it as the foundation of educational transformation

in the state, she said that this partnership will prove useful in giving a new

identity to Uttar Pradesh.

On

this occasion, Professor Craig Jeffrey, Deputy Vice Chancellor (International)

and Senior Vice President from Monash University, Dr. Greg Cusack, Chief of

Coursework Officer and Deputy Dean, Professor Manisha Priyam, Distinguished

Professor, Deputy High Commissioner Nick McCaffrey from Australian High

Commission, George Thievaos, Minister-Advisor (Education and Research),

Nathaniel Webb, First Secretary (Education and Research), Clark, Advisor A/G

(Economic) Tom Overton, Professor Rana P. Singh, Vice Chancellor, Gautam Buddha

University, Ministers of Basic, Secondary and Higher Education departments of

the state government, senior administrative officers and representatives of

Monash University were present. The Chief Minister warmly welcomed the

Australian delegation and presented them with special products manufactured

under Uttar Pradesh's 'One District-One Product' scheme, which are a symbol of

the cultural diversity and entrepreneurship of the state.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi