Karunya University, Coimbatore has already entered into Memoranda of Understanding with the Ben-Gurion University of Beer Sheva, Technion of Haifa and Institute of Archaeology of Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
These MoUs were officially exchanged by Dr. Paul Dhinakaran, Chancellor of Karunya University and the Professors of the Universities in Israel on November 3, 2013 at the Internal Convention Centre, Jerusalem in the presence of 1000 participants from different parts of the world.
Prof Yoram Oren of the Zuckerberg Institute of Water Research of Ben-Gurion University has been serving as a Visiting Faculty at Karunya University and established a laboratory in the area of electrochemical methods for water treatment. The laboratory focuses on electrochemical techniques for water and waste water treatment. Some of the areas of focus are removal of fluoride and treatment of effluents from textile industries.
Karunya University is in the process of formulating joint projects with Technion in the areas of food processing and aerospace engineering. A Centre of Excellence with focus on History and Archaeology of the Land of Bible is planned to be established with the support of the Institute of Archaeology of Hebrew University. Faculty and student exchange programmes are also envisaged as part of the MoUs.
In this conference, the pioneering initiatives of Karunya University were appreciated by Prof Avi Shaviv of Technion and Prof Jochanan Pieser of Soroka Medical Centre of Beer Sheva. Mr Ran Cohen, President of the Israel-Asia Chamber of Commerce and former Minister of Industry and Trade of Israel highly commented the initiative of Karunya University and offered support in networking with the industries of Israel. Prof Yifat Rueveni of the Recanati School of Business stated that a MoU between them and Karunya is on the anvil, which is expected to support interdisciplinary research in the areas of management and environmental studies. Support for the proposed medical school at Karunya University was offered by Prof Jochanan Pieser of Soroka Medical Center of Beer Sheva. Ms Hada Koitoru of MATIMOP highlighted the schemes of Israeli Government to support industry-academia projects under the Ministry of Economy. Mr Oded Distel of New Tech mentioned about investment promotion activities of Ministry of Economy and how universities like Karunya can become partners of this scheme.
The Conference was followed by the launching of the Israel-Karunya Initiative and the Inauguration of the Outreach Office of Karunya University at Ben Yahuda Street in Jerusalem. Karunya University has established a Museum on ‘Jewish Heritage in India’ in its Outreach Office which has a photo gallery and several models and also the replica of the Copper Plate Charter given to the Jewish leader in A D 1000 by the king of Kerala. The models on display include that of the Pardesi Synagogue of Mattanchery of the Cochinite Jews.
Note:
Technion University:
MOU exchanged between Karunya University and Technion University, Isreal
• Prof Avi Shaviv of Technion, Director, Water Institute, Technion and Prof.Itzhak Shmulevich, Department of Agricultural Energy, Technion exchanged the MoU with Dr.Paul Dhinakaran, Chancellor, and Dr.E.J.James, VC, Karunya at International Convention Centre, Isreal
Hebrew University
MOU exchanged between Karunya University and Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Isreal
• Prof.Erulla Hovers, Chair, Institute of Archeology, Hebrew University, Jerusalem exchanged the MoU with Dr.Paul Dhinakaran, Chancellor, and Dr.E.J.james, VC Karunya at International Convention Centre, Isreal