Australia's Deakin University on July 2 signed partnerships with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) for continued commitment to research collaborations in India.
 

The Minister of Human Resource Development is on an official visit to Australia with a focus on enhancing education ties between India and Australia. He participated in a Roundtable on Online Education (Australia and India), held at Deakin Downtown, during which the signings took place. The purpose of the event was to explore online education, showcase Australia's experience and increase confidence in QA and qualifications recognition.

AIIMS and Deakin University Partnership - The agreement formalises engagement between both institutes, providing opportunities for research collaboration, faculty and student exchange programs. Deakin University will engage with AIIMS to enhance the overall research collaboration between the two institutes, with a focus on key healthcare areas. Deakin will also seek to establish a joint PhD program, separate from internships/externships and faculty/student exchange in areas including molecular medicine, public health and psychiatry amongst others.

JIPMER and Deakin University Partnership & cotutelle agreement - The two institutions joined hands towards collaboration and establishment of joint PhD programme from 2017. In addition, the areas of cooperation include Post Graduate programmes in neuro surgical skill training, head and neck radiation oncology, faculty exchange programme, study tours, exchange of knowledge through webinar, MBBS student exchange programme and organisation of a joint workshop with other healthcare partners of Deakin.

Both partnerships will contribute towards enhanced future healthcare activities in India. Speaking at the signing, Deakin University Vice-Chancellor Professor Jane den Hollander AO, said: "Deakin is committed to benefiting the communities we serve, in Australia and internationally, and we look forward to sharing our research and teaching expertise to support the development of enhanced healthcare facilities. Through these new partnerships with two of India's premier medical institutes, we foresee a great potential for both India and Australia to benefit from a true exchange of healthcare ideas and learning."

Professor Randeep Guleria, AIIMS Director emphasised that: "Being one of the largest public healthcare facilities in India, the collaboration will enable exchange of knowledge between the two nations and it will in future produce better skilled healthcare providers through joint initiatives." Dr. S Vivekanandam, Interim Director, JIPMER, said: "There is an immense scope for enhancing research and work in areas of Neuro psychiatry/Neuro science, Nursing, Public Health/Rural Health, Cancer care in India. This agreement with Deakin will establish facilities and foster collaborative activities towards this very cause."