Gauhati University. A file picture

Guwahati, Nov. 10: Gauhati University will collaborate with top institutions in India and abroad to keep pace with the fast-changing academic scenario across the globe.

Academic registrar Jitram Dutta said the departments were asked to chalk out plans for a collaboration, which would go a long way in enriching the knowledge of teachers and students.

He said the collaboration was also part of the university’s ambitious plan to place itself among top-bracket institutions of higher education in the country.

Dutta refused to spell out the names of the institutions.

However, sources said the university would give concrete shape to some of the collaborations with King’s College, London, Jawaharlal Nehru University and Calcutta University before the visit of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council in January next year.

“The zoology department of King’s College has already set up an animal cell culture unit at the university for research purposes. The zoology department faculty is currently conducting two research projects through the unit. Comprehensive collaboration with the London college will be done soon,” a senior teacher of the university said.

Bhabesh Goswami, the co-ordinator of the Internal Quality Assessment Cell of Gauhati University, said academic collaborations with renowned institutions would be an important criterion when the NAAC team visits the university in January.

He said to impress the NAAC team, the university had to collaborate with leading colleges and universities in India and abroad.

“At a time when the academic scenario is witnessing major changes and challenges, GU cannot progress alone and must collaborate with other institutions for knowledge sharing, research and improving teaching methodology. Things are changing fast and some of the faculty members of different departments have already left for leading institutions in London, Japan, China and the US for research on their own initiative,” Goswami said.

Pallab Bhattacharyya, a post-graduate student in the English department, said the move to collaborate was a good and encouraging development.

“We also want to interact with our counterparts in other universities to share knowledge, ideas and experiences to nourish our intellect and be successful. Over the years, GU’s activities have been confined to its own campus. It is time for the university to change. There are many positive aspects in other institutions that the university can imbibe and follow for academic advancement through collaboration. In my department there must be collaboration in phonetics,” he said.