Burundi Ambassador Visits SOA In Bhubaneswar, Calls For Closer Ties With India

Bhubaneswar: Ambassador of the Republic of Burundi in India Stella Budiriganya on Saturday called for increased cooperation between India and her country, particularly in areas of mining, agriculture and food processing.

“Universities in India are research oriented and we are open for collaboration in different areas including mining, agriculture and food processing as also education and research,” Budiriganya, on a two-day visit to Odisha, said at the Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA).

The Ambassador, who exchanged ideas and views with SOA vice-chancellor Prof Ashok Kumar Mahapatra, Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Pradipta Kumar Nanda, Deans of different faculties and other officials, during her visit to the Deemed to be University, said she was impressed by the emphasis laid on research by SOA and appreciated the quality of education.

When informed that students from 13 different countries were studying in SOA, she said those from Burundi should also come to this university which was taking good care of foreign students and had a secure environment. Universities in India should open their offices in Burundi, she added.

Prof Nanda presented an overview of the academic and research activities at SOA while Dr Nachiketa Sharma, Director, International  Relation and Admission, spoke on the countries from where the students had come to study in the university.

Prof. Mahapatra said SOA was a multi-disciplinary and research oriented university which played a stellar role in combating the Covid-19 pandemic in Odisha.