A class of its Own

JAWAHARLAL NEHRU UNIVERSITY

With its unique syllabus, democratic

dhabas and foreign MOUS, JNU is a laboratory of interdisciplinary study

eclectic selection of students, these language courses are a boon.

The Training Programme for Equipment Use is a recent addition to the syllabus. One of the few of its kind in India, the programme aims to teach students the functioning of equipment used in daily research such as microscopes, spectrometers, data research software and the hydraulic press. Having established a good reputation in the field of arts, the course is a welcome addition for students of science and quantitative research at JNU. “Instead of mechanically producing data, students will be able to learn how the data is actually produced and be able to invest more confidence in their final results,” explains Sopory, who is a molecular biologist and has taught for over 30 years at top international universities such as the University of Munich in Germany and University of Texas at Austin, US.

Another proud facet of the university is its affiliation with over 70 foreign universities. These collaborations allow students to visit and study at a number of international universities, increasing their academic exposure. Since taking over in 2011, Sopory has signed over 25 MOUS to facilitate sharing of resources and students. “Our exchange programmes are a great experience for young scholars, especially for those who cannot fund foreign education themselves,” says Sopory. For instance, the MOU signed in