This week Cranfield University welcomed senior representatives of Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), based in the Karnataka region of India, for a visit to its Cranfield campus.
The delegation from MAHE included Vice-Chancellor of the University, Lt. General (Dr.) M. D. Venkatesh and Professor Karunakar Kotegar, Director of International Collaborations.
The visit builds on a new Academic Progression Agreement signed between the two institutions in February 2024, when Professor Dame Helen Atkinson DBE, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the School of Aerospace, Transport, Manufacturing and Materials visited Manipal.
The universities have worked closely together since February 2017, when a memorandum of understanding was signed agreeing dual degree programmes, joint short courses, joint research, internship programmes and faculty mobility programmes. In addition, Cranfield has welcomed more than 100 students from MAHE, and made three faculty appointments from the university.
Cranfield and MAHE are now looking into the possibility of expanding the current level of engagement in future.
Professor Karen Holford CBE FREng, Chief Executive and Vice-Chancellor of Cranfield University said: “We were delighted to welcome Vice-Chancellor Venkatesh and Professor Kotegar to Cranfield. The relationship we’ve had with MAHE over the last eight years has continued to deepen and the time we’ve spent with them this week will help us find ways to expand the partnership in the future.
“Relationships such as this only emphasise the importance of international cooperation and diversity in higher education at a time when some are questioning its benefits. Collaboration has always been fundamental to Cranfield, and the ability to share ideas and research across the globe is essential to advances in all fields of study.”
