MHU, Oz university join hands to promote education & research

Maharana Pratap Horticultural University (MHU), Karnal, Vice-Chancellor Dr Suresh Kumar Malhotra has said the MHU and Western Sydney University (WSU), Australia, will collaborate on education and research, focusing on key areas such as hi-tech horticulture, sustainable horticulture, climate change and resilience.

He was speaking after meeting a delegation from the WSU at the MHU on Friday.

The visiting team included WSU Director Ian Anderson and Head of International Collaboration Dr Kopal Chaube.

Dr Malhotra said the state government had established the MHU in Karnal with a special focus on horticulture to benefit farmers in the plains.

The aim was to encourage farmers to cultivate vegetables, fruits, flowers and spices, thereby enhancing economic prosperity.

MHU would train skilled horticulturists, who would assist farmers in addressing challenges in horticultural farming, Dr Malhotra added.

MHU would also establish a direct connection with farmers and make every possible effort for their advancement, he said.

Anderson said Australia, despite being a vast country with relatively low population, had successfully utilised horticulture to meet domestic needs while also supplying fruits and vegetables to other countries.

India and Australia had immense potential in the field of horticulture, offering limitless employment opportunities, he added.

Through this collaboration, both universities will work together to advance research and education in horticulture, and students will have the opportunity to earn dual degrees. During the visit, the delegation briefed MHU’s VC on the WSU’s ongoing research and advancements in the field of horticulture.

They shared insights on how horticultural practices in Australia had been made more beneficial for farmers. Both universities engaged in discussions regarding the progress and future scope of MHU’s development. Dr Malhotra facilitated a visit to MHU’s College of Horticulture, where the delegation interacted with faculty members and researchers. They engaged in discussions about various research projects undertaken at the MHU.

Students of MHU inquired about dual-degree programmes to be offered through the collaboration.