Dr. S.P. Thyagarajan
Vice Chancellor,
University of Madras

Dr. S.P. Thyagarajan, Vice Chancellor, University of Madras

Your Excellency Mr. Chris Patten, Chancellor of the Oxford University and the European Union Commissioner for External Relations, Mr. Francisco Gomes, Ambassador and Head of the Delegations, respected Shri. M.K. Narayanan, former Director, Intelligence Bureau, dear Prof. Gopalji Malviya, Head of the Department of Defence Studies, University of Madras, and my colleagues Prof. S. Karunanidhi, Registrar in charge University of Madras, distinguished diplomats, distinguished dignitaries, my dear faculty members, distinguished alumni and dear students,

The University of Madras is greatly honoured to have Mr. Chris Patten, Commissioner of External Relations of the European Union, among our midst today. The European Union delegation consisting of the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, in his capacity as President of the European council, Mr. Romano Prodi, the President of the European Commission and Mr. Patten himself as the Commissioner for External Relations for the European Union are participating in the EU-India Summit at New Delhi on 29 November 2003. In the summit, Honourable Prime Minister of India, Shri. Atal Behari Vajpayeeji and External Affairs Minister, Shri Yashwant Sinha would participate and review the state of bilateral relationship and strengthen the existing tie-ups besides bringing about newer relations. It is in this connection that His Excellency, the Chancellor of Oxford University and the European Union Commissioner for External Relations, Mr. Chris Patten is here today and he is going to deliver a public lecture on "Conflict Prevention and Peace Building".

Your Excellency, may I bring to your kind notice that this University was founded in the year 1857 as one of the three oldest universities in India, developed on the model of London University. She is going to step into her 150th year in 2006; and the university is gearing up to modernize herself in all spheres of activity, but especially in the area of internationalising the university facilities and academic programmes. We have already research relationships with European Union countries in the mode of European Union projects in the area of Science and Technology and also in the area of social sciences and humanities. Just to cite a few examples are the Indo-German project which is operating now in the Department of Genetics, the Indo-UK projects involving Glasgow University and Caledonian University with the Department Micro-biology and the University of Oslo project which just got completed with the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, and so on. You will be happy to know that the University has a Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution Studies from the month of April 2003, jointly handled by the departments of Politics and Public Administration, International Law, Christian Studies, and Islamic Studies, hosting lectures and seminars relating to peace, including conflict management. The Department of Defence Studies has also been involved in programmes of this kind in association with the Centre for Security Analysis. In October 2003, the Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution has hosted the mediation training skills programme with the help of a Fulbright scholar from Portland State University. There is also a study India programme in the University on cultural studies, gender and environmental studies, film and media, and community studies. This programme has informal relations and interactions with the European, Asian and South Asian Studies Centre, European Association of Southeast Studies at Lieden, and the European Institute of Asian Studies at Brussels. So why I am trying to focus all these is to bring to your attention that the University of Madras is already into international tie-ups with several countries abroad and more especially with the European Union countries. In the changing paradigm of internationalisation of higher education, the University of Madras is already geared up and is going to set up an international centre of higher education to attract foreign students in a significant way in our university system, as agreed upon by the University Grants Commission. This would be by way of having joint degree programmes and twining programmes with foreign universities and hence it is my fervent appeal to your Excellency, the European Union Commissioner of External Relations, to consider our University as a formal player and partner in any joint programme between India and European countries in areas of higher education and research. It is to be underscored here Sir, that this University has been recognised as an University with potential for excellence by the University Grants Commission, as one of the first five universities in the whole country. The University has also been accredited at the highest level by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council.

With these few words, I once again express my gratitude and thanks to Mr. Chris Patten and the European Union delegation for having consented to visit this premier University of this country and to deliver this unique lecture on "Conflict Prevention and Peace-Building". We look forward to your kind and enchanting lecture Sir.

Thank you very much.

Compiled by R. Venkataramanujam