Prof. Pavel Sorokin of Moscow State Agro-Engineering University (MSAU), who visited the Punjab Agricultural University said that there existed potential opportunities for cooperation in agricultural sector through a collaboration between his University and the PAU. "A good beginning has already been made as there has been exchange of visits of students and faculty members between the two Universities in the area of agricultural engineering and crop sciences", said Dr. Sorokin. He discussed how the two Universities could work in mutually beneficiary areas in his meeting with the PAU Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Manjit Singh Kang.

Prof. Sorokin shared with the Vice-Chancellor how the PAU faculty could be involved in the educational programmes in MSAU and vice verse. Dr. Kang shared that Prof. Allen Featherstone of the Kansas State University, who delivered a lecture on distance learning the other day, had mentioned Dr.Sorokin's proposed collaboration and that the PAU has generated a facility of distance education under AKI programme partially funded by the USDA and ICAR, wherein two other Universities namely, G.B.Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar and University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore are participating in addition to PAU.

Earlier, using this facility interactive sessions with IOWA State University of USA were held, shared Dr. Kang. Prof. Sorokin visited the facility of distance learning in the College of Agricultural Engineering and interacted with the faculty on the operation and usefulness of the e-learning gadget. He was impressed with the facility of distance learning, video conferencing and the availability of ultra-tech electron microscope and nanotechnology lab on the PAU Campus. The linguistic difficulties to non-English speaking faculty and students of MSAU, however, need to be addressed for a collaborative interaction when they visit India or elsewhere, observed Dr. Sorokin.

A progressive grower of Punjab, Mr. Jagjit Singh Hara and Mr. Vipin Kumar an entrepreneur, also accompanied Dr. Sorokin to the University. They paid a visit to the Centre for Communication, Languages and Culture of the University. A discussion was held on the need for preparation of a document on the successes and progress of the ongoing collaboration between PAU and MSAU. Dr. Jagtar Singh Dhiman, the Additional Director of Communication participated in the discussion and a synopsis was developed to give a shape to the documentation. The visitors were shown various activities of the Centre.

PROF. PAVEL SOROKIN OF MSAU DISCUSSING ISSUES OF COLLABORATION WITH THE PAU VICE-CHANCELLOR, DR. MANJIT SINGH KANG AND OTHERS

Source: PAU, Ludhiana