Collaborating on education

Iranian universities were keen to enter into collaboration with the Guru Nanak Dev University in the areas of language, culture and history of Punjab, Iranian Ambassador to India Siyavash Zargar Yaghoubi said here today.

The Iranian envoy while interacting with the university faculty, stressed Iran's close relations with India, especially the Sikh community.

Yaghoubi said a lot of scholarships were available in his country and theIran was interested in exchange programmes with students, teachers and researchers of some leading Indian universities.

Iran had a centre of cultural heritage and if any scholar associated with language, especially the Persian language, history and culture, were welcome to undertake research in the country, he added.

After mutual collaboration, the Iranian ambassador said the country would "Identify the areas of specific research."

Earlier, while welcoming the Iranian ambassador and other diplomats, Vice-Chancellor, S.P. Singh apprised them about the various academic programmes being run by the university.

Singh said the university had already established a centre for the south-central Asian studies to undertake study and research on socio-economic and cultural fields of south-central Asian countries.

Yaghoubi accompanied by two diplomats, Ainollah Souri, counsellor and M Shakib, cultural counsellor, was earlier warmly received by the vice-chancellor in the university guest house.