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Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê's already close links with India were given a further boost in January 2005 after a visit from the Indian High Commissioner, His Excellency Kamalesh Sharma.

The High Commissioner, joined by his wife Mrs Babli Sharma, toured Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê after meeting with Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê's President & Provost Professor Malcolm Grant and Professor Michael Worton, Vice Provost (Academic & International).

Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê already has over 170 Indian students studying across a variety of disciplines and enjoys many active research collaborations with staff at Indian universities and specialist institutes, both areas which the High Commissioner is keen to develop further and which were discussed with Professor Grant and Professor Worton.

Speaking at a lunch attended by many of Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê's Indian students His Excellency said: "India is currently moving ahead economically and we need to prepare strategic relationships with UK institutions like Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê to help continue this growth. The embassy is employing an education officer and I look forward to her meeting colleagues at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê to promote students coming here and discussing what chairs and fellowships can be funded."

Among the students who attended the event was Ms Rati Singh who is studying for an MSc in Environmental Design and Engineering. She explained why she chose to come to Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê: "While sustainable architecture is becoming more popular in India, it's still a marginal practice and there aren't any environmental design courses taught there, so the Bartlett course is ideal for pursuing a career in this area."

Image: His Excellency Kamalesh Sharma with students from Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê's Indian community.