AMRITSAR: Guru Nanak Dev University has signed a MoU with Goethe-Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan, a non-profit German cultural association operational worldwide to promote the German language, to increase the academic opportunities for students. The MoU was signed on Monday in the presence of Vice Chancellor Prof (Dr.) Jaspal Singh Sandhu and Mr. Thomas Gödel, Director Language Programmes South Asia, Goethe-Institut, New Delhi.
Earlier, a high level delegation led by Mr Thomas Gödel, Regional Director, Language and Deputy Executive Director, Goethe-Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan, Ms Puneet Kaur, Head of Educational Services & Ms Sonali Sahgal, Programme Manager, Network Expansion visited Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) today. On this occasion, Mr Thomas Gödel also interacted with GNDU faculty members and senior functionaries.
Speaking on the occasion Prof (Dr.) Jaspal Singh Sandhu said the University is committed to providing global exposure to all its students and giving flight to their dreams”. “Learning a global language is not just the acquisition of skills but also an association with the culture of a particular country. This partnership with Goethe Institut Max Mueller Bhavan will open many new jobs as well as academic opportunities for students of university in future.
In a statement, Dr. Preet Mohinder Singh Bedi, Director University Industry Linkage Cell said that under this partnership, The Goethe-Institute will support the German language programs of the University and share expertise through organization of events and seminars. Moreover, institute will conduct internationally recognized German language examinations of the Goethe- Institut on the GNDU premises. In addition to this, students will be trained by faculty from Goethe-Institut/ Max Mueller Bhavan in communicative German language which will help students strengthen their professional skills and explore a new culture. The Goethe-Institute has agreed in principle to grant an appropriate remission in exam fee for the potential candidates of the university. Moreover, the periodical conferences, workshops, seminars etc are supposed to be organised with the prior mutual consent of both the institutes to bring about more academic collaboration transcending the academic domains. It is presumed that it will definitely open up new vistas not only for learners of German, but also for other students, research scholars, faculty members across the multiplicity of disciplines.
Director Language Programmes South Asia to India Mr. Thomas Gödel said, “This linguistic partnership with Guru Nanak Dev University will open new horizons to culture, art, education and many other partnerships in future. Learning German will open routes to job opportunities for students in many EU countries, not just Germany.”