New Delhi: Delhi University (DU) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) for joint collaboration on research and development, recently. The pact has been signed for setting up a centre of excellence in DU by the year 2015. In addition, the University has also invited proposals for funding innovative projects in its colleges as well as departments.
As per sources, the idea behind this alliance is to identify core research areas of mutual interest and work towards establishing a centre of excellence through funding from DRDO within three years. Moreover, this collaboration will also enable this yet-to-be-formed centre to take up joint sponsored projects.
Stepping into the undergraduate level research, DU, for the first time, is also introducing trans-disciplinary research projects for its college students. Under this programme, students will be headed by three faculty members and guided in each project by an erudite figure from outside the colleges.
As per the research programme guideline, students, who propose innovative research projects that are not linked to their syllabi, will be given a grant of up to Rs 10 lakh to execute the project within a year. However, the fund will be divided into Rs 3 lakh for equipment, Rs 2 lakh for outstation field trips and Rs 1 lakh for local trips, among others.
In addition, the project proposals have to be prepared by a team of 10 undergraduate students from at least two departments. The team should also have three faculty members of different departments. Students working in the selected project will get a stipend of Rs 1,000 per month, while the advisor will be eligible for a one-time honourarium of Rs 25,000.
While explaining about the research programme, Dinesh Singh, Vice Chancellor, DU, said that this is one of the most ambitious projects by the University to involve undergraduate students in serious research. The idea is to get students excited about what they are studying during their three years of college in DU. Moreover, along with students, teachers will also be involved, he concluded.
