The relationship between the University of Southampton and India has been further strengthened following a major University visit this September that included two successful alumni events.
Professor Colin Grant, Vice President (International) led one of the largest University delegations ever to India, a month after the visit of His Excellency Ambassador, Mr Dinesh Patnaik to the University. The trip aimed to engage with the finest minds in the country, building on existing business partnerships, and strengthening links with the alumni community.
The delegation comprised University academic leaders in education, chemical technologies, marine and maritime, management, demography and social science. The group also included colleagues from Student Recruitment & International Relations and the Office of Development and Alumni Relations, joined by the University’s Special Advisor on India, alumnus Mr Amarjit Singh.
The trip saw staff engage with influential figures in the country – meeting with the Chandra foundation, the State Government of Rajasthan and meetings with ministers and senior civil servants in Delhi as well as many more meetings that resulted in positive relationships for both the University of Southampton and the Indian community including IIT Madras, IIT Kharagpur and TISS Mumbai.
Staff from the Office of Development and Alumni relations held receptions for alumni and friends in New Delhi and Chennai, welcoming over 50 attendees to the two events. Alumni networked with staff and shared fond memories of their time at the University.
Prior to the alumni reception in New Delhi, Professor Grant signed a formal agreement with Mr Amreesh Chandra of Chandra Links Education India, to develop next generation leaders in education.
Professor Grant commented:
“If there is one word that encapsulated the delegation it was this: partnership. The vision of the agreement with Mr Chandra sets the tone for our overall engagement with this wonderful country.
“This strong connection also sits perfectly with our major Commonwealth engagement with the Commonwealth Secretary General in developing thinking to promote the blue economy.
“Despite the many challenges facing the world today, this visit made one point very clear: the University of Southampton is and will remain open to the world!”
“Of course, a key strand of this particular visit to India – which represented Southampton’s largest ever single delegation to the country so far – was our fantastic engagement with our alumni there. Not only were we able to share and define aspects of our strategy for the country with some of India’s finest minds, specialist institutions and ministries, our two very successful alumni events in Delhi and Chennai proved beyond doubt that the University of Southampton community in India is stronger than ever.”
The Office of Development and Alumni Relations are committed to engaging and growing our alumni communities globally. Keep up to date with all forthcoming events on our website.
