Thapar University and Trinity College Dublin Announce Future Collaboration

Posted on: 27 November 2014

Trinity College Dublin and Thapar University announced the intention to develop an institutional partnership at a special event in New Delhi today. The future partnership will promote academic collaboration in the key areas of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, research, and student and staff mobility. This collaboration is a central component of a major contemporisation programme that Thapar University is undertaking. It will also significantly contribute to Trinity College Dublin’s global engagement in attracting high-calibre students.

This commitment follows exploratory high-level discussions and visits by both institutions and a successful academic review in early November, 2014, by Trinity College Dublin of four Thapar University departments: Civil Engineering, Computer Science & Engineering, Electronics & Communication Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. 

Trinity professors from Engineering (Civil, Electronic, and Mechanical), Computer Science and Statistics, as well as  the Academic Secretary, formed part of the delegation and fully endorsed Thapar University’ s contemporisation programme.

The Trinity College review team found much to commend at Thapar University and looks forward to working collaboratively with Thapar staff and management to build on existing strengths and potential. The report of the review team recommended a number of changes which, when implemented, the team felt would significantly enhance Thapar’s standing as both a teaching and research university of international consequence. Thapar University's well established reputation within India, together with the outstanding academic ability of its undergraduate students and good quality undergraduate programmes, provides a very strong platform for this collaboration.

Mr. Gautam Thapar, President, Thapar University, stated: “We value our partnerships. This partnership will help address and bolster Thapar University’s position as a leading centre for higher education in India and in the region. We are pleased to have Trinity College Dublin’s support as we fulfil our mission of offering global standards in our deliverables at Thapar University and uphold the internationalization of higher education in the country."

This future collaboration will explore the development of the award of twin, joint and dual degrees at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, student mobility and exchange, staff mobility, and research collaboration.

Thapar University’s contemporisation programme will be strengthened from the experience and international reputation of Trinity College Dublin, its thriving international research output, its teaching-research culture, and its success in building research and innovation partnerships with national and international companies and industry.

Trinity College Dublin will benefit from collaborating with an Indian university such as Thapar University that has an ambition to be a global leader in its field. It will encourage joint research between the two institutions in areas of strength and opportunities for international mobility for faculty and students.

Speaking at the announcement event, the President & Provost of Trinity College Dublin, Dr Patrick Prendergast, said: “As part of Trinity College Dublin’s global engagement it attracts students and staff of the highest calibre and promotes mobility among our staff with partnering international institutions. This is enabled by the development of strategic partnerships and joint partnership degree programmes with institutions globally. Today’s statement of intent with Thapar University is an important step in achieving this and we look forward to developing an agreement that will set out a process of collaboration.”

Commenting on what is a landmark moment in Thapar University’s continuous quest for excellence, Mr. R.R. Vederah, Chairman of the Board of Governors, Thapar University, remarked: "We value Trinity College Dublin as a partner and look forward to a rewarding collaboration. Trinity College Dublin is one of the world’s oldest universities- over 400 years old. Its cutting-edge research, technology and innovation place the university at the forefront of higher education globally. This significant co-temporisation initiative between Trinity College Dublin and TU promises to transform the education landscape in India and is in keeping with the trend of educational institutions coming together to forge global linkages and benefit their students, the leaders of tomorrow."