Bournemouth University part of key delegation on India visit

Bournemouth University staff are currently in India for a high-level delegation led by Business Secretary Sajid Javid MP and Universities Minister Jo Johnson MP for a three day visit to India.

Professor John Vinney, Vice-Chancellor of Bournemouth University, and Dr Sonal Minocha, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement) were invited to be part of the delegation as it visits Indian businesses and education providers to explore the growing links between India and the UK.

Speaking ahead of the visit, Professor John Vinney said, “I am looking forward to spending time in India strengthening our links with people and businesses out there. India is such an influential country, and we are lucky to be joined at BU by a number of Indian students each year. Our interest in India also extends to research, with projects looking at Indian wildlife and Indian politics to name just two, and a number of businesses based in India regularly link in to BU as well.

“I am also really pleased to be joining the Universities Minister Jo Johnson MP and the Business Secretary Sajid Javid MP, who has visited BU before, on the trip as we continue to grow and strengthen our relationships with UK politicians too.”  

The visit will include a Tech Summit and a roundtable discussion between UK and Indian universities, as well as visits to a number of schools. The delegation will be travelling to Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore.

BU has a rich history of interaction with Indian universities working on projects relevant to that country.  A strong example of this is the pioneering work of Dr Adrian Pinder, Associate Director – BU Ecology, who, in partnership with St Andrews College, India, is leading the effort to protect India’s iconic humpbacked Mahseer from extinction through research and the setting up of a foundation trust in India..

The University also includes a number of prestigious colleagues with Indian backgrounds, most notably BU’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement Dr Sonal Minocha who graduated from Delhi University in 2000 before moving to the UK to continue her studies and commence a successful career in Higher Education. She has received, or been shortlisted for, numerous awards including ‘Asian Academic of the Year’ at the Asian Voice and Politics Awards 2012 and ‘Annual Award of Achievement (Education)’ at the Annual India International Foundation Awards 2012.

Also, Associate Professor Dr Venky Dubey, an expert in robotics and their medical application was awarded the Hind Rattan Award from the NRI Welfare Society of India in 2014 in recognition of outstanding services, achievements and contributions to his chosen field.  This is one of the most prestigious awards for Indians not currently living in India.