September 2012


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New chairs of Hindi and Indian studies

The UWI has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations for the establishment of ICCR Chairs of Hindi and Indian studies at the St. Augustine Campus.

The Chairs, deemed long-term, would be held for periods of two academic years at a time with an option to extend for another year.

Setting up these Chairs is part of a broad purpose to develop and strengthen the relationship between India and Trinidad and Tobago, which itself is part of a wider focus on expanding the University’s relationships with various countries and higher education institutions.

To this end, the Office of Institutional Advancement & Internationalisation has been involved in arranging several interactions in partnership with foreign institutions. In the case of India, this has included conferences on the Diaspora, Ayurveda, Hindi and Culture. There have also been research collaborations with various institutes, such as the medical sciences programme with Manipal University. Scholars have come and gone, through exchanges such as the newly agreed Chairs in Hindi and Indian studies, and Indian academics spending time at the St. Augustine Campus, learning and training staff in different disciplines.

The exchanges have been many, with cultural programmes featuring Indian artistes from different genres and film festivals that weaken the concept that Indian film strictly follows a Bollywood formula.