Indo-German bilateral academic relations will witness a new high as the second leg of DWIH –German House of Research and Innovation ‘Excellence On Tour 2013’ is set to begin in the city tomorrow – a unique multi-city road show offering an interactive platform to academicians, researchers and students from both India and Germany. The ‘Excellence On Tour 2013’ started in Hyderabad in April this year and, after 22 November, will move on to Kolkata.
Underlining the importance of the ‘Excellence on Tour’, the German Ambassador to India Michael Steiner said “The Indo-German cooperation in science and education is a defining pillar of our bilateral relationship. We are both hubs of knowledge and innovation, so fostering our academic and research cooperation in times of globalisation is a must. With the ‘Excellence on Tour’ we want to reach out to as many skilled Indian students and researchers as possible – in the North, South, East and West of the subcontinent. For one entire week, we offer hands-on experience of what it is like to study and do research in Germany, one of the world’s top destinations for young bright minds.
After the successful kick-start in Hyderabad, Ahmedabad with its strong science landscape is an ideal setting for the second leg of the “Excellence on tour”.”
Ahmedabad has been long known for its Science City and has an enormous potential to contribute to the enhanced research collaboration envisaged by the DWIH ‘Excellence On Tour 2013’. The venue is a hot spot for young Indian researchers, to-be scientists and students across the spectrum to come together and get first-hand knowledge of the German know-how from top experts and researchers.
Mr. Anup Singh, Director General Nirma University expressing his delight at the initiative by DWIH said, “Our relationship with Hof University, Germany has been phenomenal. It is a mutually beneficial and supportive relationship bringing two varied perspectives together. The students as well as faculty members from the Nirma University would go to the Hof University and students and faculty of the Hof University would come to Nirma University. In the future, this relationship will move from strength to strength.”
The eight day ‘Excellence on Tour’ consists of exhibitions, workshops, lectures, symposiums, quizzes and culture events to illustrate Indo German research collaboration. The Indo-German Science Slam will be one of the special attractions of the tour that will witness passionate researchers present their topic of interest in ten minutes to other eminent researchers and audience in their own style that can be as diverse from a conventional talk or a musical performance.
Dr. Alexander P Hansen, Coordinator, DWIH New Delhi and the Director, DFG Office says of the ‘Excellence on Tour’, “DWIH aims to foster areas of higher education and research to the benefit of both India and Germany. We want to reach out to Indian students beyond the National Capital; hence we are bringing this tour to various cities, Amedabad being one of them. It is a ‘Gateway to Germany’ and stands for first hand information to young Indian minds on studying, doing research, working or doing business in Germany”.
The German House of Research and Innovation in New Delhi (DWIH New Delhi) inaugurated in October last year is the fifth focal point for enhanced German research and cooperation, along with Brazil (São Paulo), Russia (Moscow), USA (NewYork) and Japan (Tokyo). It is a ‘one-stop shop’ for students, researchers and potential partner institutions on higher education, research landscape and funding sources in Germany.