Patna University VC Shambhu Nath Singh (right) with the Iranian delegation at the varsity on Monday. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Patna, Nov. 21: To restore the sweetness of Persian language that was once a sought-after course in Patna University (PU), the varsity administration will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Iran to start a student-teacher exchange programme.

The tie-up between Islamic Republic of Iran and PU will be part of a cultural exchange programme.

According to the proposed understanding, the Persian language department of PU would start exchanging students, faculties and also research papers with the Iranian government.

PU vice-chancellor Shambhu Nath Singh said: “As part of the programme, the students and the teachers of the Persian department would visit Iran. Similarly, students and teachers from Iran would also come to Patna.”

He added that there would be an exchange of research papers, too, between PU and the Iranian government.

Sadique Hussain, a Persian language teacher at Patna University, said the MoU was scheduled to be signed today. “But since the representatives who had come from Iran had to visit Maner Sharif Dargah, the MoU would be signed tomorrow,” he added,

“The signing of MoU between Patna University and the Iranian government will be a big step towards meeting the requirements of teachers. There’s a huge shortage of teachers in the department,” Hussain said.

Once the MoU is signed, teachers from Iran would visit PU as guest faculty. Besides, students and teachers who would go to Iran from PU would get scholarships from the Iranian government.

The Persian department of PU, which runs from the Patna College, is one of the oldest departments of the university. It was established in 1863. The department once boasted of having highly qualified and experienced faculty. Students and teachers from many Islamic countries used to study Persian at PU.

However, in the past few decades, the department has failed to generate much interest for the language among students.

Moreover, since many former students found it extremely difficult to get jobs after getting a degree from PU, not many youngsters show interest in the language these days.