Mumbai, India – The World Trade Center (WTC) Mumbai signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today with Mandya University, Karnataka, aiming to enhance collaboration in education, joint research, and the preparation of students to face global challenges. Dr. Vijay Kalantri, Chairman of WTC Mumbai, and Professor K. Shivachithappa, Vice Chancellor of Mandya University, represented their respective institutions at the ceremony.
Dr. Vijay Kalantri expressed enthusiasm for the partnership’s potential in launching joint research and education initiatives, including opportunities for joint diplomas and advanced skill-building programs. He stated that the World Trade Institute (WTI) and Mandya will go a long way. He talked about the importance of focusing on skill development and collaborative efforts. “Education is the Wealth,” he remarked, reiterating WTC Mumbai’s commitment to fostering a collaborative educational ecosystem.
Professor K. Shivachithappa, Vice Chancellor of Mandya University, presented the university’s comprehensive curriculum spanning sciences, commerce, management, arts, and specialized fields. He noted that Mandya University now affiliates 48 colleges, collectively enrolling over 22,000 students. The university boasts a dedicated research center and the Sir M. Visvesvaraya Postgraduate (PG) Center, which offers 12 postgraduate programs and two special courses in Sugar Technology and Polymer Sciences. Professor Sivachithappa also highlighted Mandya University’s ongoing collaboration with Dravidian University in Andhra Pradesh through an existing MoU. He expressed strong optimism that the new partnership with WTC Mumbai would provide students with greater opportunities and elevate the university’s academic landscape to greater heights.
Ms. Priya Pansare, Director – Trade & Investment Promotion, highlighted the impactful courses offered by the World Trade Institute (WTI), emphasizing their role in equipping students and professionals with practical skills essential for excelling in global markets. Ms. Pansare also underscored WTC Mumbai’s extensive global network, which facilitates international exposure through flagship events like the Global Economic Summit. This platform enables robust B2B, B2G, and G2G interactions, fostering greater collaboration rather than competition among participants and strengthening ties with international businesses, universities, and trade bodies.
Dr. Vartika Arora, Head of Trade and Research-WTC Mumbai, emphasized the focus on reaching the right participants, highlighting the dual necessity of "what you know and what you can learn" to successfully navigate the journey toward a rewarding career. She underscored the World Trade Institute’s strong legacy of courses & WTC Mumbai’s research, noting its extensive publication history that includes insightful articles on trade, business, and economics featured in prominent Trade magazines and authoritative white papers issued by WTC Mumbai.
The meeting also had an exchange of dialogue and achievements. Dr. Kalantri highlighted WTC Mumbai’s significant role in skill development through the World Trade Institute, which has trained over 70,000 students in various programs. Professor Shivachithappa presented Mandya University’s robust curriculum in sciences, commerce, management, arts, and specialized fields, noting its reach across 48 affiliated colleges and a student base of around 22,000.
The ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks from Prof. Yoga Narasimha Chari, acknowledging the spirit of collaboration and expressing optimism for future growth between the two institutions.