Two visitors to Mumbai in September from very different English universities illustrated areas where there are immense opportunities for British interests in India.
Professor Lionel Tarassenko, Chair of Electrical Engineering at Oxford University, came to Mumbai and other Indian cities to give a lecture on “mHealth for the management of chronic diseases”. In a fascinating presentation to lecturers and students at Mumbai’s prestigious IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) Professor Tarassenko described how his research at Oxford had demonstrated the significant benefits of using mobile telephony to monitor people with ailments like heart disease, hypertension and diabetes.
His research has potential commercial spin-off. Professor Tarassenko’s visit was one of a number from UK universities this year (Prof Marcus Du Sautoy gave another stimulating talk in Mumbai on “The Music of the Primes”) organised by the Science and Innovation Network at the High Commission to highlight the depth and range of the links between the UK and Indian universities. During the visit of the Prime Minister and his delegation last month both Governments agreed to launch a number of initiatives in science and research.
Another university visitor to Mumbai in September, the Vice Chancellor of Middlesex University, Professor Michael Driscoll, helped to highlight other aspects of these strong university links. While he was in Mumbai the Vice Chancellor signed a contract with an Indian provider of IT training Aptech. As a result Middlesex University will be providing Indian students with the opportunity to do the final year of their three year programme in London. The University is also looking at the possibility of establishing its own campus in India.
From the leafy surroundings of Oxford colleges to large campuses in North West London, British academics are exploring and demonstrating the opportunities for collaboration to strengthen UK and Indian science and business interests in Mumbai.