4th November 2020.
Savitribai Phule Pune University and SSPU Research Park Foundation hosted an online conference to host the MoU signing ceremony between the Australian Institute of Water Sciences India and Savitribai Phule Pune University.
Key members from both organizations were present in the ceremony. The meeting was presided by Atul Bhakta, Director – Operations, AIWS Australia.
The MoU is designed to create opportunities for environmental skills training on the Indian Subcontinent. This will help in creating skilled manpower in India for handling the water pollution crisis and other environmental pollution scenarios in India. This MoU’s primary objective is to spearhead the creation of a generation that is entirely aware of environmental issues and responsibilities and can make the necessary changes.
The students will be able to enroll in accredited environmental skills courses. Prof. P. Bell, CEO, and Chairman of AIWS India has said that this MoU will bring new employment opportunities for the Indian students. After completing courses, students will be able to compete for highly desirable internships and project work in the environmental space. This includes a fully-funded two-week study internship in Australia for selected students from participating groups of one hundred students per group.
Prof. Bell described this signing ceremony as a historically significant event. He said that SSPU and AIWS would lead India in environmental education while being an important source of advice to the government and industry regarding environmental issues in the future.
The MoU signed by AIWS India directors D. T. Devale and G. Kale, together with SPPU Research Park Foundation CEO, Prof. Dr. A. Shaligram, was presented to the participants at the close of the ceremony.