Seeking academic collaboration with the Thompson Rivers University (TRU) of Canada, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today emphasised the need for frequent student and faculty exchange program between the state and university for benefitting the students of the state.Interacting with a high level delegation of the university that called on the Chief Minister at his office this afternoon, Mr. Badal said that it was the need of the hour to update the knowledge of students and upskill the teachers from both the countries. He said that as the world was swiftly emerging as a ‘global village’ so it was all the more important to ensure that students and teachers could be benefitted from it. Mr. Badal said that universities of state could collaborate with the Thompson Rivers University for starting this student and faculty exchange program.
Dwelling on another issue, the Chief Minister asked the visiting delegation to provide good teachers to the state for teaching English in government schools and colleges. He said that the state government would bear the entire expenditure of such guests teachers, who could enhance the reading, writing and speaking skills of students in English language, to brighten their future prospects. Mr. Badal said that the state government was not averse to the idea of sending delegation of teachers from the state to Thompson University for imparting training to them in order to enhance their capacities and capabilities.
During the meeting Chief Executive Officer of Thompson Rivers University Ms. Baihua Chadwick said that the university was eager to collaborate with Punjab in the field of academics.
Welcoming the proposal mooted by Chief Minister regarding student and faculty exchange program, she said that students and teachers from both the sides would be mutually benefitted from this initiative.Prominent amongst other present on the occasion included Cabinet Minister Mr. Sikander Singh Maluka and Chairman Zila Parishad Bathinda Mr. Gurpreet Singh Maluka.The visiting delegation included Mr. Rajdeep Mahal, Dean Tourism TRU Mr. Robert Hood, Dean Trades & Technology Dr. Lindsay Langille and Mr. Ron Mundi.