Jorhat, Feb. 14: Assam Agricultural University has tied up with Cornell University, US, on education and research programmes.

The university is also mulling a dual degree from the two universities for its students, besides diploma and certificate courses.

Vice-chancellor K.M. Bujarbaruah told reporters here today that a memorandum of understanding would soon be signed with College of Agriculture and Life Science, Cornell University, for teacher and student exchange programmes and collaborative research.

“Yesterday, W. Ronnie Coffman, director, international programme, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, visited the university and we showed him our strengths and weaknesses. He has agreed to initiate the tie-up under their international agriculture and rural development branch for five years,” Bujarbaruah said.

He said this would boost the university’s education and research programmes.

“At present, we are stressing more on productivity and new and better products. But once our teachers and students come in contact with their peers at the global level, they will inculcate a sense of competitiveness and this will ultimately lead to overall development and research and a better work culture,” he said.

“The collaboration and degrees from both the universities will mean a brighter future for our students. They can now easily enter the global arena,” he added.

Bujarbaruah said first teachers selected from College of Agriculture and College of Veterinary Science would be sent to the US for a three-month training. Then teachers of Fishery Science College and College of Home Science would be sent. The programme will start from May.

Funds sanctioned to the university for human resource development will be used to send the teachers for the training programme.

“Later, the students can go from here and vice-versa and teachers can come from Cornell University to teach here. Research work, which cannot be done here for some reason, can be furthered there,” he said.

Cornell University will also help Assam Agricultural University in the field of nanotechnology in agricultural research. This technology is used in the entomology department and to control plant diseases.

Bujarbaruah said Assam Agricultural University would soon start three-month certificate courses on food safety and fruit and vegetable seed production with help from Cornell University. Those who have passed matriculation are eligible to take up the certificate courses. The courses will be conducted in the 20 Krishi Vigyan Kendras, besides the university.

The university is also thinking of starting a three-year diploma for 10+2 students, the modalities of which are being worked out.