The UQ–IITD Academy of Research has hit a major milestone, celebrating the enrolment of its 100th PhD student.
A delegation from UQ, including Chancellor Peter N Varghese, AO, and President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry AO, travelled to India in August to mark the occasion.
“Students from the UQ–IITD partnership are undertaking exciting research in a number of fields, and it was a privilege to be able to travel to India to celebrate the 100th enrolment,” Professor Terry said.
The UQ–IITD partnership was founded in 2018, and gives students the opportunity to undertake a joint PhD, with a focus on projects that address some of the most pressing issues affecting India and Australia.
With access to world-class facilities and resources, and dual supervision by UQ and IIT Delhi academics, students benefit from global expertise and access to diverse employment opportunities with international sponsors.
“Global partnerships are a key element in UQ’s strategy,” said Mr Varghese.
“Our partnership with IITD reflects a shared vision, one that is committed to excellence and growth. To see students join us in this belief, and to transform into truly game-changing graduates, gives us immense pleasure.”
The delegation met the new Director of IIT Delhi, Professor Rangan Banerjee, to discuss the partnership between the two universities.
“We are exciting about our partnership with The University of Queensland,” said Professor Banerjee.
“The joint PhD program enables an excellent learning experience that exploits the synergy and complementarity in faculty expertise and research facilities.
“We believe the UQ–IITD partnership will enhance our internationalisation and help in solving research problems in India and Australia.”
Open to all disciplines, most students are recruited into the program in Delhi, with a small cohort of Australian-based researchers.
“We are currently in discussion on how we can expand our partnership into other teaching and research fields, in areas of mutual interest to both Australia and India,” said Professor Terry.
“I am a strong believer in collaboration, and at UQ we are very aware of the importance of working with industry, government, and other education and research institution to achieve mutual goals.”
For more information on the UQ–IITD Academy of Research, visit uqidar.org.
