Visakhapatnam: Andhra University has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM), in the areas of research and academic collaborations on Saturday. In a programme held at the collectorate here in Visakhapatnam, the authorities of both varsities executed the MoU by signing the pact and later exchanged the documents, in the presence of HRD minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao.
Mr Rao said that the MoU helps both the institutes in driving students towards right set of skills. “Besides training AU students, the SIM also helps students in finding employment in Singapore and other countries,” he added. Speaking on this occasion, AU vice-chancellor, Prof. G.S.N. Raju, said that the two universities work for the common aspiration of improving education and work together on the issues of mutual interest with student-centric approach.
Representatives of the Singapore Institute of Management informed that both the institutions will take up collaborations in teaching and research and publications and exchange of students and faculty. “We connect faculty, staff and administrators to their counterparts at the other institution for information sharing and cultural exchange.” Prof. GSN Raju further added. Anakapalle MP Srinivasa Rao, AU Registrar V. Umamaheswara Rao, Govin Holdings CEO Anand Govindaluri and others were present.
Protests, relay hunger strike continue in AU:
Protests and a relay hunger strike over the suicide of UoH research scholar Rohith Vemula continued on Saturday in Andhra University. Leaders of political parties and activists of women groups joined the students and faculty of AU in the relay hunger strike on Saturday.
Speaking to this correspondent, Prof. Sharon Raju, a faculty of Andhra University, said that it is unfortunate to see caste politics making its way into varsities and cutting short a young man’s life. “The irony was that Rohith’s birthday fell on Saturday, a day when the entire nation observes the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The same communal forces which killed Mahatma Gandhi took the life of Rohith. We demand the government to remove both Union minister Bandaru Dattatreya and Smriti Irani from the Cabinet besides sacking vice-chancellor Prof. Appa Rao Podile,” he said.
Ex-MLA and YSRCP leader Golla Baburao said, “the HRD minister was making baseless assumptions about the death of Rohith. She should immediately resign from the Cabinet.” Mahila Chetana leader K. Padma asked the government to expedite the proceedings of the inquiry committee and punish the culprits who are responsible for Rohith’s suicide. “The government should grant ex-gratia besides employment to Rohith's family who were dependent on him,” she said.
