Six international delegates–some with the government of Punjab, others with English-speaking universities and technical institutions–paid a special visit to TRU to solidify an existing partnership and to explore further collaborative opportunities in technology, trades and business education.
The current memorandum of understanding, signed on November 30, 2017, set the framework to allow credits earned by students at Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University to be transferred to TRU’s Bachelor of Computing Science program. Under this model, students study for two years in India and transfer to TRU to complete their degrees.
The visiting delegates–led by Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, Minister of Technical Education and Industrial Training in Punjab–met with TRU leadership members on June 6 and 7, 2018 to discuss engineering transfer, business and trades and joint degree programs for students from I. K. Gujral Punjab Technical University, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University and TRU.
Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, Minister of Technical Education and Industrial Training, State of Punjab, India.
“TRU World is always looking for opportunities to build on our international strategic partnerships. This agreement has the potential to expand opportunities for students, as well as ensuring program sustainability in the longer term,” said Baihua Chadwick, Associate Vice President, International and Chief Executive Officer, TRU World Global Operations.
The visiting officials received the full university experience, including a campus tour, and attended the Faculty of Science convocation ceremony on June 6 that featured the installation of TRU’s newest chancellor Nathan Matthew.
It was Vice Chancellor of MRSPTU, Dr. Mohan Paul Singh Ishar’s first visit to TRU. He spoke on the importance of finding innovative ways to support the collaboration. As Vice Chancellor, Ishar oversees more than 150 institutions in India.
“This union is important for our students because a large percentage of them wish to travel abroad for higher education and obtain a degree. It’s a great learning experience and there’s considerable interest to study in Canada,” Ishar said.
Dr. Sandeep Singh Kaura, Advisor, Skills Development Mission, Government of Punjab added the partnership–geared at linking youth to skilled work–benefits all parties.
“The focus now is to make the youth a skilled group. The world is facing a real skills shortage and trades are in demand everywhere, across the globe. Young, skilled people are needed,” Kaura said. “We are ready. Together we can build a very strong model that can be beneficial not only to Punjab and India but also to Canada.”
It’s been a little over six months since the first phase of the collaboration and the delegates have received overwhelmingly positive feedback so far.
“Students speak very highly of TRU and I’m very much impressed with the quality of students that this university is providing to society,” said Charanjit Singh Channi, Minister of Technical Education and Industrial Training, State of Punjab, India.
The six-person delegation included:
- Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, Minister of Technical Education and Industrial Training, State of Punjab, India.
- Dr. Sandeep Singh Kaura, Advisor, Skills Development Mission, Government of Punjab.
- Dr. Mohan Paul Singh Ishar, Vice Chancellor MRSPTU.
- Dr. Narinder Paul Singh, Dean, Planning and External Programs IKGPTU.
- Mr. Nirmal Singh Rayat, President, Rayat and Bahra Group
- Gunraj Gill, Managing Partner, Aurora Advising Group.
