St Xavier’s University has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the West Bengal Electronics Industry Development Corporation Limited (Webel), a government enterprise, to foster industry-academia collaboration.
The vice-chancellor of the university, Father Felix Raj, said the initiative was meant to take both organisations forward towards “research and innovation.”
Students of the university will get access to the laboratories at Webel. “The collaboration would open up opportunities for our children for internships and placements,” said Father Felix Raj.
The MoU signed by Father Felix Raj and Randhir Kumar, secretary, IT & E department, government of West Bengal and managing director of Webel.
The major thrust areas will be data sciences and cyber security, 3D printing and animation and VFX.
“The initiative is meant to take both organisations forward for the benefit of research and innovation. The collaboration would make the courses relevant and experiential for our students,” said Father Felix Raj.
Short-term certificate courses, diploma courses, faculty development programmes and student
workshops will be offered jointly by the university and Webel.
In another initiative by the university to empower rural women, they have trained them in tailoring. The Centre for Social Outreach of the university in association with Seva Kendra, an arm of the Roman Cathlolic Archdiocese of Calcutta, conducted a 10-day workshop on tailoring on the campus.
The West Bengal State Electricity and Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL) sponsored 15 swing machines which were donated to the participating women.