Film showcases Indian partnerships

The short video features staff from the Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies who travelled to Bangalore in March 2014.

The Indian city played host to an international animal conference, organised jointly by Edinburgh, the Commonwealth Veterinary Association and partners across from India. This film shows how Edinburgh is working closely with colleagues in India and examines how animal husbandry and welfare standards can be improved by sharing knowledge.

Sharing expertise

The five-day event in Bangalore looked at ways to improve the quality of life for both livestock and pets, as well as diseases threatening India’s wildlife.

Topics for discussion included new techniques to address infectious diseases in herd animals; finding new ways to tackle India’s growing problem of rabid dogs; and examining treatments for other zoonotic diseases - those affecting both humans and animals.

Edinburgh India Institute

Edinburgh’s collaboration with India stretches back to the 19th century and in 2014, it is moving up a gear with the staging of the inaugural conference of the Edinburgh India Institute.

The Edinburgh India Institute will showcase and celebrate the University’s longstanding engagement with India; provide a forum for interdisciplinary opportunities; and help establish new partnerships.

On 15 & 16 May 2014, one of the principal architects of modern India will deliver the keynote address at the Edinburgh India Institute conference.

Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, who served as President of India from 2002 to 2007, will set out his vision for the country in the context of partnership working with the University of Edinburgh.

Edinburgh academics and their Indian collaborators in humanities and social sciences, medicine and veterinary medicine, and science and engineering are being invited to take part in the conference, entitled ‘Innovative Engagement for Sustainable Development: The Edinburgh-India Story’.

Working with India

Edinburgh has a long history of interaction with Indian universities and research institutes. In 1875 the Indian Association, the first South Asian Student Association ever in the United Kingdom was founded at Edinburgh and the following year saw the first Indian student graduate from the University.

Over the past few decades Edinburgh’s relationship with India has grown and strengthened and this year the University has almost 250 Indian students enrolled - more than twice as many as 5 years ago.

In 2013, the University launched the Edinburgh India Institute. This provides a focal point to collate all research and cultural links between Edinburgh and India. Activities in 2013 included hosting a visit from students with disabilities from Delhi University and sending a group of over 80 Edinburgh students on the College on Wheels project across northern India.

The University’s India office, based in Mumbai, provides a local liaison point for Edinburgh’s activities across the country.