UGC approve guidelines for university-Industry collaborations to form R&D clusters

Hyderabad, June 30 (KNN) To boost Research and Development (R&D), the University Grants Commission (UGC) has come out with guidelines on ‘Sustainable and Vibrant University-Industry (UI) Linkage’ for Indian Universities.

As per the guidelines approved by the 570th UGC meeting, , the higher educational institutions have been asked to take measures to boost R&D by creating R&D clusters at State or regional levels through UI linkages.

The R&D clusters aim to address problems of high societal relevance besides equipping students with required skill sets, making them job ready through internships.

UGC Chairman Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar said, “the National Educational Policy 2020 recommends vibrant UI linkage, with emphasis on exposing students to real-life examples and making them globally competent.”

“The guidelines will promote research and development through collaborations between universities and industries. Establishing the linkages between university and industry will help create training and apprenticeship opportunities in the industries, R&D labs, and research organizations,” he said.

As per the new guidelines, the institution that serves as the cluster head can establish a regional R&D Advisory Committee that advises the R&D growth in the cluster.

The higher educational institutions have to create an Industry Relations Cell (IRC) to enable collaborative project creation between a university faculty group and industry group besides exploring funding sources from various stakeholders. To address and serve its R&D needs, the industries have been asked to create the University Relations Cell (URC).

The varsities can appoint highly experienced industry professionals to governance bodies and can also on-board professionals from the industry as ‘Professors of Practice in accordance with the UGC guidelines.  (KNN Bureau)