IIT-Madras, IIT-Kanpur, IISc to offer joint Ph.D scholarship programme with University of Melbourne

Indian Institute of Technology-Madras, IIT-Kanpur and the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore has now joined hands with the University of Melbourne to offer a new joint Ph.D Scholarship programme from 2014.

The Melbourne-India Postgraduate programme will offer Aus$ 3 million as scholarship to 16 Ph.D scholars and agreed to offer support for research exchanges for the next three years. Glyn Davis, vice-chancellor of the University of Melbourne, said, “As a university we are committed to supporting research that has global impact and benefits, and this programme will go a long way to help further this goal.”

Davis said, “By enabling students from India and Australia to undertake jointly developed research of the highest quality, we're confident the program will address shared global challenges in areas of environmental, societal and technological need.”

He added, “We're excited that the program will give students the opportunity to contribute to the development of education, cultural and industry links between both countries.” The Ph.D students of University of Melbourne will be eligible to apply for this programme and this will be co-supervised by faculty at IIM-Kanpur, IIT-Madras or IISc. Similarly, students who are enrolled in one of the three Indian Institutions will get the access to co-supervision with Melbourne academic.

IIT-Kanpur director Indranil Manna said, “Australian and Indian communities hold immense respect for each other and this is yet another opportunity that would contribute to the strengthening of cultural ties between the two great nations."

The faculty of IIT-Kanpur has advocated and promoted interdisciplinary and inter-institutional collaboration and cooperation in all areas of mutual interest in science and engineering. As per his statement, such programmes will further encourage diversity on campus, besides it will also help to bridge the gap across geographical borders.