By Darshana Jamindar
November 9, 2021
HIGHLIGHTS
- Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) signed the first of its kind Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Army Training Command (ARTRAC), Indian Army.
- Military-academia collaboration must scale momentum for a variety of reasons including modernization of military advancements.
- The Chief of Army Staff, Gen MM Naravane addressed the gathering through a virtual platform in which he emphasized that signing of this MoU is a path breaking initiative towards enhancing the interaction of the Indian Army with academia.
- Presided over by the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, ARTRAC, Lt Gen Raj Shukla, stressed that this is a step towards strengthening the linkages between academia and the Indian Military. He laid specific emphasis on “Civil-Military Fusion”
- Vice Chancellor, RRU, Prof (Dr.) Bimal N. Patel: RRU aims to ensure for continuing the better cooperation among the nations for enhancing Security strategic partnerships.
- Shri T. P. Singh, DG, BISAG-N, highlighted that with signing of this MoU, BISAG-N will act as a medium of exchange of knowledge and collaboration in the fields of emerging technology for development of Geo-Informatic System and IT based software
- The MoU recognizes the collaboration of both the organizations in the realm of academic research in pursuance of national security.
- Launch of “Chanakya” and “Nipun” during the event.
The Army Training Command (ARTRAC), Indian Army entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) and Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-Informatics (BISAG-N). During a brief ceremony conducted at RRU Gandhinagar, the Indian Army inked a synergetic connexion with these two Centres of Excellence in the fields of academic brilliance, knowledge sharing, research & development and training of Army personnel in niche technologies and emerging technological domains.
The Chief of Army Staff, Gen MM Naravane, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC addressed the gathering through virtual platform in which he emphasized that signing of this MoU is a path breaking initiative towards enhancing the interaction of the Indian Army with academia. The MoU will leverage the relative advantage to both institutes to support training and evolve innovative solutions to boost operational capabilities of the Indian Armed Forces.
“This MoU is an important milestone for institutionalising the collaboration in the field of the National Security, Innovation & Incubation” said COAS. The GOC-in-C highlighted about the potential national security challenges that lie ahead for our country on different fronts, especially the contemporary threats at the Northern borders and Maritime domain.
He further stated that future challenges in field of Statecraft, Indo pacific strategies, technological challenges are emerging and would become a hurdle in the new era of cyber warfare and combat. Therefore, military-academia collaboration must scale momentum for variety of reasons including modernization of military advancements in the areas of research, training and collaboration, with specific emphasis on strengthening the inter institution partnerships to adapt latest modern warfare communication technology to combat the future national security threats.
The event was presided over by the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, ARTRAC, Lt Gen Raj Shukla, PVSM, YSM, SM, ADC. He stressed that this is a step towards strengthening the linkages between academia and the Indian Military. He laid specific emphasis on “Civil-Military Fusion” and expounded multifaceted aspects pertaining to mutual cooperation. These MoUs will act as a catalyst and enabler for orienting academia towards strengthening the nation’s defence and capability enhancement.
Prof (Dr.) Bimal N. Patel, Vice Chancellor, RRU underlined that RRU is a model security of India and an institute of national importance. The university will focus on meeting specific requirements of the Indian Army in emerging and contemporary technologies in the field of Artificial Intelligence, disruptive military technologies, cyber and information warfare, air and space capabilities and will provide certification for all training undertaken at this Institute.
RRU aims to ensure for continuing the better cooperation among the nations for enhancing Security strategic partnerships: Prof (Dr.) Bimal N Patel, VC
‘Chanakya’ a biannual publication of RRU on multidisciplinary strategic affairs concerning national security was also launched during the event.
Shri T. P. Singh, DG, BISAG-N, highlighted that with signing of this MoU, BISAG-N will act as a medium of exchange of knowledge and collaboration in the fields of emerging technology for development of Geo-Informatic System and IT based software, generation of customised training content, telecasting audio-visual training content, develop specific projects required by Indian Army in the fields of IT and AI. BISAG-N dedicated the Learning Management System (LMS) developed for ARTRAC and its affiliated institutes during the event. GOC-IN-C launched a package called LMS (Learning management system) software called NIPUN by the ARTRAC for the virtual training of Indian Army officers.
The vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Akshat Mehta, Dean, RRU, where he thanked all the present dignitaries on the behalf of the RRU family expressing his deepest gratitude and appreciation for the success of the event.
The Indian Army signed the MoU with RRU as one of the leading academic and security training Institutes of the country. It serves as a declaration of intent strategizing cooperation of two implementing programmes pertaining to training, research and capability development.
The MoU recognizes the collaboration of both the organizations in the realm of academic research in pursuance of national security.
RRU aims at an academic-research-training ecosystem for security and police. Its endeavors focus on highly professional security, police education, research, and training through its qualified civilian and security faculty, committed human resources, motivated participants and students, intellectually stimulating and professionally disciplined environment, and
world-wide network, sharing, and exchange. It aims at providing security and strategic education in the contemporary and futuristic security and strategic studies and interdisciplinary areas.
