Australian students visit India to get insight into Ayurvedic studies
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Australian students to visit India to get insight into Ayurvedic studies
The Western Sydney University aims at conducting experiments by combining herbal treatment with western medicine
Western Sydney University (WSU) emerged as the first institute from Australia to collaborate with India for Ayurvedic studies. The university collaborated with the Ministry of AYUSH to conduct extensive studies in Ayurvedic and integrative medicines.
Professor Barney Glover, vice chancellor and president of WSU confirmed to Ayush Darpan that the initiative with the ministry will launch a special programme under which studies will be conducted by combining herbal treatment with western medicines.
“In the last one decade, Ayurveda’s reach has increased exponentially in Australia. Through this collaboration, we plan to expand its popularity by offering scientific basis to Ayurvedic therapy,” said Glover.
Under the MoU signed by WSU and the ministry, the University’s National Institute of Complementary Medicine will formulate research programmes to study about India’s ancient science of Ayurveda. Several Australian students, said Glover, will visit India to learn the traditional practices and gather information through the ancient scriptures.
Exchange of students between India and Australia
Australian Minister for Education Dan Tehan hopes to have a strong collaboration
with India for research on environmental issues, water, agriculture, yoga and
spiritual studies. In a four-hour long meeting with HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal
‘Nishank’, a strategy to strengthen the educational ties between the two countries
was chalked out recently. “We intend to increase the number of Australian
students visiting India to study. We are looking at better exchanges of PhD
students and more fellowships between both the countries. One of the important
points of discussion was twin degrees where students can get degrees from
universities in India and universities in Australia,” said the minister in a chat
with Education Times.
“We will introduce PG courses for the Indian students at WSU, to conduct in-depth research on herbal medicines, so as to enhance the uses of Ayurvedic practices,” added Glover.
With India and Australia facing similar challenges in the agriculture sector, WSU signed 7 MoUs with the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) earlier this week to promote agricultural research.
The university first established partnerships with ICAR in 2018 for knowledge exchange around food security, especially under the increasing challenges of a changing climate.
“Through these partnerships, we are broadening the international impact of WSU’s research expertise in crop pollination, soil fertility and the use of innovative protected cropping structures and systems,” said Glover. “Collectively, these are areas of major concern in both India and Australia, and underpin both regions’ economic and environmental resilience.”
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