The trip began in Hyderabad with visits to the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, the University of Hyderabad and the International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad. The discussions covered not only technical issues, but also topics such as research partnerships, innovation funding and the transfer of science into practice. In New Delhi, the delegation participated in the Indo-German Forum: Research, Innovation and Transfer and held talks with representatives of German and Indian scientific institutions. Rector Obergfell spoke at a round table titled Horizon: Social Sciences and Humanities, on the role of the humanities in academic cooperation between Indian and German universities.
Leipzig University already has fruitful partnerships with Indian institutions. One example is the Erasmus Mundus master’s programme in Global Studies, where students explore the impact of globalisation in the Global North and South. The programme offers them the opportunity to study at various international universities, including Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi. There are also strong links with India in the field of natural sciences: for example, representatives from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine work with leading Indian and German veterinary institutions as part of the Indian-German Partnership for Veterinary Education and Research, or InDeVet. The initiative aims to strengthen veterinary education, research and practice in India and Germany and to improve human and animal health.
The DAAD fact-finding trip, which is being coordinated by the DAAD Regional Office in New Delhi and the German Centre for Research and Innovation New Delhi, will also include meetings with partners from the DAAD network and a visit to the German Embassy. As well as strengthening existing links, the trip will also provide an opportunity for Leipzig University to identify potential new partnerships. In particular, with the opening of the Saxon Science Liaison Office India in Chennai in October 2024 to promote scientific exchange between the Free State of Saxony and India, the trip will help to identify further opportunities to expand strategic cooperation with India.
