GUWAHATI: A 20-member delegation comprising 13 women journalists from 10 ASEAN countries took part in a discussion with the IIT Guwahati authorities on Tuesday and enquired about possibility of the enrolment of ASEAN countries students in the premier institution.
The visiting team urged the IIT authority to extend fruitful help to the ASEAN countries for spread of technology and service-related knowledge and skill.
Professor Gautam Biswas, Director, IIT and the other Professors urged the delegation to raise the issue in their respective countries and assured that IIT Guwahati would be happy to accept any tie-up proposal from their technical institutions.
Till now 5 countries have examination centres (in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Singapore and Dubai) for India’s Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) – the screening test for enrolment to IIT and other technical institutions, and if the Government of India agrees, more such centres can be opened in other ASEAN countries — Prof Biswas said.
The guests were unanimous in their views that Guwahati should become the gateway to the ASEAN and direct connectivity to all ASEAN countries should be started soon.
They also welcomed the vision of Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal that ASEAN countries should open their Consulates in Guwahati for mutual gain in both economic (trade and commerce) and socio-educational sectors' prosperity.
The team members were from — Malaysia, Cambodia, Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Myanmar and Philippines and are on a three-day visit to Assam.