The strong ties that India shares with European Union have benefited Manipal University immensely. On Thursday, December 18, 2009, the University became the first in the private sector in the country to start the Manipal Centre for European Studies. It was duly inaugurated by Fernando Nino Page, Head of Economic Cooperation Section, Delegation of the European Union to India, at the old TAPMI building in the University campus here.
Inaugural address by Mr Page
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Mr Page said that this Centre, together with other centres, was the key to the strategy of promoting mutual understanding between the two partners.
“The European Union and India benefit from a longstanding relationship going back to the 1960s,” he said and added that the joint political statement of 1993 and 1994 on cooperation agreement had opened the door to a broad political dialogue through annual summits.
Dr. Ramdas M. Pai lighting the lamp
Elaborating, Page said, “EU pays increasing importance to India. We are the main trade partners for India with a 60 billion Euros import/export per year. And we are negotiating a comprehensive free trade agreement that will allow our trade to go up to 120-130 billion Euros in the next five years. “
In 2004 India became one of EU’s strategic partners and a number of joint initiatives under the EU-India Joint Action Plan (Global partners for global challenges) were launched in 2005. Opening of European Study centres in India is one of the initiatives of the joint venture.
“EU was attracted to the large potential of the Indian market,” said Page. “This in turn demanded attention for investing not only in physical infrastructure but also in new labour skills, knowledge, higher education, health, etc. It is towards this that the study Centre would contribute,” Page said.
Mr Alexius Collette addressing the gathering
“There is more than trade and economic cooperation that EU contributes to India. It is also part of the EU partnership to share expertise in the promotion of common values and responsibilities such as promoting peace, sustainable development, protection of environment and cultural heritage,” Mr Page added.
“It is across all of these multidisciplinary fields that the EU-India study centres will have to work together,” he said and thanked Manipal University for hosting the Centre to further develop the EU-India strategic partnership.
Dr. H. Vinod Bhat giving a presentation about MCES
Dr H Vinod Bhat, Registrar, International Programmes, who is the brain behind this Centre in his address, said that Manipal University was into medicine, engineering and management but not into humanities. “It is the first time the University is venturing into humanities with the start of the Manipal Centre for European studies,” he announced.
Dr Bhat gave details of how the University bagged the bid to host the Centre and went on to make it a reality. He said this was the first private university in the country to have the honour of hosting one of the European Study Centres. He also gave details of the arrangement between the two partners. EU will be funding the project for two years, which is worth Rs 2 crore. The first instalment of the payment had been received, and the rest would follow subsequently, he added.
Speaking on the occasion Mr Alexius Collette, the Guest of Honour said such initiatives would bridge the gap between India and EU. He suggested that the Centre should encourage cultural exchange between the two to enhance understanding and cooperation.
Dr. Ballal addressing the gathering
Dr H S Ballal, Pro Chancellor, Manipal University, who presided over the inaugural function, said this new initiative would bring together the educational enterprise of India and Europe and that Manipal University was prepared for the same. He congratulated Dr Vinod Bhat and his team that worked towards the realization of the project.
Mr Page unveils the plaque
Dr Neeta Inamdar, Head – Manipal Centre for European Studies, welcomed the gathering. Dr Arvind Kumar proposed a vote of thanks. Dr Ramdas Pai, Chancellor, Manipal University and luminaries like Dr M V Kamath and Prof M D Nalapat were present along with several heads of institutions.
The Manipal Centre will have three programmes and two activity centres.
The programmes include: Masters in European Studies and Management; Post-graduate Diploma in Gandhian and Peace Studies; and Certificate Courses in Public Health.
The activity centres include: Manipal Multidisciplinary Developmental Research Centre and Dwaita Philosophy Resource Centre.