Solan, Jan 19
In a major development, the central government has decided to give a Rs nine crore grant for funding of research activities in Shoolini University, the country’s top research focussed university.
Department of Science and Technology, which is part of the Union Ministry of Science and Technology, have several schemes for providing research funding to the institutions, who have to present a case and have an exemplary record to become eligible for the grant. There is a stiff competition among universities across the country to win the grant.
The Rs 9 crore grant has been given under the scheme called Promotion of University Research and Scientific Excellence (PURSE) Grant. Under the scheme, 70 per cent of the Grant is to be spent on modern equipment required for research and the rest of the funds are to be utilised for consumables, manpower, holding seminars, maintenance and hand holding of start-ups and industrial collaboration.
Welcoming the government’s decision, Chancellor Prof P K Khosla said it was a matter of great pride that Shoolini University he been given the grant after stiff competition from hundreds of other universities and institutions in the country.
Prof Khosla said the grant would enable the university to purchase expensive equipments for research related to life science, biology, chemistry and other subjects. The university would be able to set up exceptionally expensive, infrastructural support which is not provided in other funding schemes.
Vice Chancellor Prof Atul Khosla said that the conferring of the prestigious Grant reflected the confidence of the government of India in the research capabilities of Shoolini University. He said the university’s consistent excellence in research has already been recognised by various independent and credible ranking organisations like the Times Higher Education, QS and the National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF).
The Grant would enable faculty members and researchers of the university to plan high-end research. The grant has to be utilised over a period of four years, as per its terms and conditions. The university has been asked to set up a “Project Implementation Group” for implementation of the programme.
