Calcutta, Nov. 12: Calcutta University and the University of Glasgow today signed a memorandum of understanding for academic collaboration in the fields of art and culture.

Michael Russell, cabinet secretary for education and lifelong learning in the government of Scotland, signed the memorandum with CU vice-chancellor Suranjan Das.

“In the first phase, we will focus on museum studies by offering fellowships to postgraduate students. The student exchange programme will herald our collaborative study in arts research,” said Anton Muscatelli, vice-chancellor of the University of Glasgow.

The Scottish varsity will offer financial aid to students from CU to ensure that they can avail of the fellowship.

“Soon we will work out the modalities to decide how the students will be shortlisted for the fellowships,” Das said.

The two universities also have plans to expand the scope for association through tie-ups in the fields of medicinal research and engineering technology.

“Our medicinal research wing is working extensively on tropical diseases such as malaria. We can pass on this expertise to our counterparts in Calcutta University during specific tie-ups. These inputs could be helpful in developing, through competent agencies, more effective mechanisms for combating the disease in Bengal,” said Muscatelli.

Besides signing the memorandum, Russell also visited Scottish Church College and announced the Scottish government’s plan to renovate the Scottish cemetery in the city, and develop Scottish Church College in Calcutta and Scottish Centres of Tagore Studies at Napier University, Edinburgh.