Panjab University (PU), Chandigarh and the Nottingham Trent University (NTU), United Kingdom (UK) today signed the Memorandum of Understanding at Chandigarh on Thursday.

PU Vice Chancellor (VC), Prof Arun Kumar Grover and NTU VC Professor Edward Peck signed the MoU on behalf of two
Universities. Professor Edward Peck was leading his University delegation at PU Campus to sign the MoU. British Deputy High Commissioner Mr. David Lelliott was also present on the occasion.

MoU has been signed following number of visits and discussions from each side to the other partner University. Earlier, Professor Edward Peck visited the PU Library and Gandhi Bhawan at the PU Campus.

As per the agreement, the Initial focus and discussion of the two leading universities of India and UK would be for mutual research collaborations, exchange visits by faculty & students, organization of joint conferences, workshops and schools, development of a joint academic and research programmes.

As per the agreement, both parties have agreed to collaborate between the NTU School of Art & Design & PU University Institute of Fashion Technology (UIFT) and Centre for Conflict, Rights and Justice, Nottingham Law School & Centre for Human Rights and Duties, PU respectively.

At the outside, NTU Centre for Human Rights and Duties has agreed to partially fund and provide full academic facilities and support to one PU research scholar (working in the area of human rights) every year for one semester. Further, four partially funded places in NTUs human rights summer programme in Europe has also been offered to students of PU.

NTU Fashion Technology students would participate in the annual tour organized by school of fashion technology for its students to study clothing and textiles in different parts of India.

In order to carry out and fulfil the aims of the Memorandum, each party has appointed coordinator, who will be responsible for managing the development and conduct of any activities upon which the parties agree. NTU Pro Vice-Chancellor (International) and Head of College of Business, Law & Social Sciences, Nottingham Prof. Nigel Healey and Associate Director, PU Research Promotion Cell, Prof. Ramanjit Kaur Johal, would be the two coordinators from NTU and PU sides respectively. The University coordinators would review the collaborative activity on an annual basis and annually prepare report.

The Nottingham delegation included Prof. Nigel Healey, Mr. David Bishop, Mr. Hardev Singh, Mr. Thalej Vasishta, Business Development (India), Nottingham City Council, Ms. Jyoti Gandhi, Mr. Stuart Senior and Mr. Michael Johal.

PU Dean University Instructions, Professor A.K. Bhandari, Registrar Col. Guljit Singh Chadha, SVS, Dr. Col. P.S. Sandhu, PU Director Research Promotion Cell (RPC), Prof OP Katare, Associate Director, RPC Prof Ramanjit Kaur Johal, Dean  Alumni Relations, Prof Anil Monga, Dean Internatinal Students, Prof Deepti Gupta, Dean Faculty of  Design & Fine Arts Dr. Harpreet Singh Dua, Chairperson, UIFT, Prof Rita Kant, Chairperson, Centre for Human Rights, Dr. Swarnjit Kaur, Project Coordinator, UIFT Dr. Prabhdip Brar and PU Director Public Relations, Mr Vineet Punia were also present on the occasion of signing ceremony.