Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): In a significant move to deepen academic and cultural cooperation, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and the University of Alberta have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish an ICCR Chair at the university. The agreement was signed by the High Commissioner of India to Canada, H.E. Dinesh K. Patnaik, on behalf of ICCR, and the University of Alberta’s President and Vice-Chancellor, Prof. William Flanagan.
The University of Alberta currently hosts approximately 2,000 Indian international students, employs 60 faculty members of Indian origin, and has jointly published over 1,400 research papers with Indian institutions. The new ICCR Chair aims to further strengthen academic ties, support research and teaching on India’s rich history and culture, and foster deeper engagement between Indian and Canadian scholars.
The signing ceremony was attended by the Consul General of India, Vice Dean (Academic) Dr. Ryan Dunch, faculty members including Dr. Dominik Wujastyk, Dr. Amit Kumar, Dr. Heather Coleman, Dr. Sandeep Agrawal, and Dr. Rambabu Karumudi, along with several Indian international students who interacted with the High Commissioner after the event. This initiative is expected to bolster cultural understanding, enhance institutional partnerships, and enrich people-to-people connections between India and Canada.
