University of Groningen signs MoU with Ashoka University to Strengthen Academic Ties

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the University of Groningen and Ashoka University , India to establish mutual areas of interdisciplinary collaboration. Societal challenges in the areas of climate resilience, sustainability, social resilience, an ageing population and digital transformation are well recognized globally and are our strategic areas.

In this partnership, we will work together in research and academic exchanges in the areas of energy transition, digital innovation, climate adaptation, astronomy and astrophysics, materials science, sociology, economics, chemistry and archaeology. The partnership seeks to facilitate joint research activities, and to create pathways for sharing academic information and materials. Additionally, it aims to enable the exchange of students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, as well as researchers and faculty.

Furthermore, both institutions will actively engage in conferences, meetings, and other academic events to foster a vibrant intellectual environment for joint work. By promoting innovative collaborations, knowledge sharing, and the exchange of best practices, this partnership will generate substantial benefits for students, faculty and researchers at both institutions.

The MoU lays the groundwork for a long-lasting partnership between the two institutions. Driven by a shared goal of advancing interdisciplinary research, promoting intellectual growth, and making a positive societal impact, this partnership exemplifies the universities' unwavering commitment to fostering academic excellence and facilitating cross-cultural learning.

Academic excellence

Reflecting on the significance of this collaboration, Professor Somak Raychaudhury, Vice-Chancellor, Ashoka University, states: “We are delighted to announce our partnership with the esteemed University of Groningen, one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands, well-regarded for its longstanding tradition of academic excellence. This collaboration will bring together our efforts to establish an environment of innovative research and academic excellence, while promoting cultural understanding and global perspectives. This partnership aligns perfectly with Ashoka’s goals of stimulating international collaborations and fostering diversity within the realm of higher education.”

Professor Gautam Menon, Dean of Research, Ashoka University, says: “The MoU with the University of Groningen is an important milestone for Ashoka, as we continue to push boundaries in terms of collaborations, especially for research and innovation. Our faculty members and students are actively engaged in a wide range of research projects, spanning fields such as condensed matter physics, epidemiology, machine learning, astronomy and astrophysics and big data methods, as also other distinctive scientific fields. This partnership will further enlarge our envelope of opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborations, through an open exchange of ideas, academic material, scholars and students.”

Professor Lorenzo Squintani, scientific director of the Wubbo Ockels School for Energy & Climate is very happy with the interdisciplinary collaboration between the two universities. “The collaboration with Ashoka University is of strategic importance for our community members active in the fields of energy transition and climate change. I am certain that this MoU will foster exchanges and partnerships of mutual benefits for our Universities.”

About Ashoka University

Ashoka University is India’s premier interdisciplinary research and teaching institution, providing higher education that is at par with the best in the world. Founded by leaders, thinkers, academics and philanthropists from a range of fields, it offers a diverse and inclusive space for its students to think deeply and critically. It envisions developing global leaders who understand disciplinary boundaries, express themselves creatively, and communicate with meaning to cause impact and change. With over 2500 students and 14 dedicated research centres today, it offers opportunities in fields ranging from arts to natural sciences. As a non-profit university established under the Haryana Private Universities Act, 2006, it is located in Rajiv Gandhi Education City, Sonipat, Haryana, India.

Read the news item on the website of Ashoka University.

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For further information please contact:

Leo Dvortsin , Scientific Coordinator Energy & Sustainability, Wubbo Ockels School for Energy & Climate
Tamalika Banerjee , Faculty of Science and Engineering
Liza ten Velde , International Policy Officer, Faculty of Science and Engineering
John Falvey , International Policy Advisor (Oceania and South Asia)