The Hindu Business Line : Cambridge varsity sets up Nehru chair

University of Cambridge has launched a chair on Indian business and enterprise. The Jawaharlal Nehru Professorship of Indian Business and Enterprise has been fully funded by the Indian Government with a contribution of £3.2 million (approx Rs 25 crore) for it.

The chair has been set up in honour of Jawaharlal Nehru, who was an a

lumnus of the institution.

It has been established to help forge closer links between the Indian and other international economies, and to promote understanding of India’s interests and its place in the world economy, Prof Alison Richard, Vice-Chancellor, University of Cambridge told reporters.

This is the first time that an educational chair has been funded by the Government.

Focus

The Cambridge Centre for Indian Business will support the work of the Jawaharlal Nehru Professorship of Indian Business and Enterprises.

It will initially focus on contemporary research themes relating to today’s business environment.

Themes to be covered in the first three years include technology innovation, emerging global economies, the relationship between economic development and knowledge economy, and entrepreneurship.

British Petroleum will fund the ‘BP India PHD scholarship’ for students from India to work under the supervision of the newly-appointed professor.

The name of the professor will be announced shortly, Prof Richard said.

Creating network

Cambridge has at least 1,200 alumni in India. “We are looking to create a network of our alumni as they will be the best ambassadors of our university,” she said.

Prof Arnoud De Meyer, Director, Judge Business School said, “The Centre will serve as a focal point for Indian and UK business, and policymakers to work together to promote a better understanding of India’s business interests and its place in the world economy.”

Team coming

“The university delegation will be visiting Mumbai, Kolkata and Bangalore in the next 10 days and speak to the Indian institutes on areas of mutual cooperation and partnership,” he added.