Under the guidance of Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Karamjeet Singh Guru Nanak Dev University today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bhatia Neuropsychiatric Hospital & De-Addiction Centre, Amritsar, to provide clinical training and internship opportunities to students enrolled in the Bachelor in Psychology (B.Psy.) programme and to strengthen mental health services through academic-clinical collaboration.
The MoU was signed during a ceremony held at the Dean Academic Affairs' office in the presence of Dean Academic Affairs Prof. (Dr.) Harvinder Singh Saini, Registrar Prof. K.S. Chahal, Dean Student Welfare Prof. Satnam Singh Deol, Prof. Vasudha Sambyal, Director, Golden Jubilee Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Head of the Department of Psychology Dr. Rupan Dhillon, and Director Dr. J. P. S. Bhatia of Bhatia Neuropsychiatric Hospital & De-Addiction Centre.
Under the MoU, students of the B.Psy. programme will undergo practical and clinical training at Bhatia Neuropsychiatric Hospital under the supervision of qualified psychiatrists and psychologists. The collaboration will provide students with hands-on exposure to psychological assessment, counselling support, case observation, case formulation, psychoeducation, documentation, and other mental health services in a professional clinical setting.
The first batch of B.Psy. students (2026–2030) will undertake their compulsory internship and practical training during the seventh and eighth semesters of the programme. The training will be conducted free of cost and in accordance with a mutually agreed schedule between the university and the hospital.
Prof. (Dr.) Harvinder Singh Saini described the collaboration as an important step towards strengthening professional education in psychology and providing students with meaningful clinical exposure. He noted that such partnerships help bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world mental health practice.
Dr. Rupan Dhillon stated that the MoU would create valuable experiential learning opportunities for psychology students and contribute to the development of competent future mental health professionals. Director Dr. J. P. S. Bhatia welcomed the initiative and said that it was a long-awaited collaboration that he had been looking forward to for many years.
He expressed confidence that the partnership would benefit both institutions while contributing significantly to mental health awareness, training, and service delivery in Punjab. The MoU shall remain valid for a period of five years and is expected to promote academic excellence, professional development, and community engagement in the field of mental health.