Agartala, Jul 23, 2022, TRIPURATIMES Desk

With an aim to expand the academic and research activities in Tripura, the University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya (USTM) has inked Memorandum of Understanding with the Tripura (Central) University and Maharaja Bir Bikram (MBB) University on Saturday.

The MoU signing ceremony was a part of launching “Mission Education Outreach-Tripura Chapter” held at a private hotel in Agartala. 

Prof. GD Sharma, Vice Chancellor of USTM, Chancellor of the university M Hoque, vice-chancellor of Tripura University Ganga Prasad Prasain, vice-chancellor of Tripura MBB University Prof. Satyadeo Poddar among other dignitaries of three universities, intellectuals, academicians and social workers were present in the event. 

After signing the MoU with the USTM, the Vice-Chancellor of the Tripura University Ganga Prasad Prasain in his address said  that with its educational outreach programme, the USTM would become one of the most wanted and renowned universities in the North-East region as well as in the country.

“With the signing of the MoU we shall now grab the opportunity of exchanging our ideas and academic designs to grow our universities at large,” he said.

The Vice-Chancellor of the Tripura MBB University Prof. Satyadeo Poddar, who also signed MoU with the USTM on behalf of the MBB University on Saturday, mainly stressed on the need of accessing the PPP model for growing any universities in the country.

He said, “Collaboration between the universities is much more important as far as potentiality of university is concerned. Because, collaboration can play a key role towards fostering better learning opportunities among the students in their higher studies.”

“Students in MBB University which offers courses on the recent happenings like Goods & Service Taxes and others are now in a position to become self-reliant,” he said and hoped that the collaboration between the USTM, Tripura University and MBB University would certainly set an exemplary model of education hub in the North-East region.

On the other hand, the former vice-chancellor of the Tripura University – Dr. Arunoday Saha in his address laid emphasis on the PPP-model and said, “Under this PPP-model which the government is mainly stressing upon, the USTM can avail their required opportunities. I appealed to the USTM authority to find out the feasibility of setting up their infrastructure in Tripura.”  

Prof. GD Sharma, Vice Chancellor of USTM said, "We are giving this opportunity to those students who have potential but cannot go to other universities for higher education due to financial and other factors.”

Addressing the gathering, the Chancellor of the USTM said, "As a neighbouring state we are trying to expand our educational outreach. Therefore, we are here to create awareness and speaking to the media so that this information reaches the nook and corner of the state of Tripura Under the educational outreach of USTM more than 20 per cent students of the total intake of the university are now availing free education Students from all the NE states are studying in USTM.”

An interactive programme on higher education with the intellectuals, academicians and social workers of Tripura was also organised as part of the event on Saturday, where prospects and suggestions on higher education for Tripura students were offered by the dignitaries.

The entire programme was anchored by Dr. Rani Pathak, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya.