'IESCP to upgrade study centres in India, Europe'

Speaking to press persons on the sidelines of the inauguration of international seminar on “The European Union in changing international order: Issues and concerns” organised by Mangalore University in association with IESCP, Podewils said that 15 universities in India and Europe including Mangalore University, IIT Madras, JNU, MSU in Chennai, Pondichery University among others are the active study centres which receive technical assistance under IESCP and are working on the set objective. “Forty nine area study centres in various departments too are working for the same cause, which would merge and act jointly in the days to come,” he said.

Further, he informed that Mangalore centre was chosen and was built as the Study Centre in December 2009 and the programme would be winded up in October 2011. For the effective implementation of the programme, the team has plans to arrange talks with political leaders in close association with HRD department and UGC.

Earlier, inaugurating the session, Parliamentary Standing Committee on HRD Chairman Oscar Fernandes appreciated the efforts of partnership programmes between India and Europe as European continent and India are developing at a rapid pase. “There is a great employment opportunity in Europe and if Indians are able to measure up to the requirement of Europeans, it would certainly provide ample job opportunities to Indians,” he insisted.

The two-day seminar was organised at Mangalore University to understand various aspects of India and European continent and thereby to strengthen Indo-EU relations. Scholars and researchers from different parts of Europe, Canada and India presented papers on significant aspects of European Union and the contemporary international order.

Mangalore University Vice-Chancellor Dr T C Shivshankar Murthy presided over the function. Registrar Prof K Chinnappa Gowda and others were present.