FCRI signs MoU with Auburn University of US for global opportunities to students of forestry

HYDERABAD: Forest College and Research Institute (FCRI), Mulugu, Hyderabad and US-based Auburn University have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at FCRI campus here on Saturday. Through this MoU, FCRI students would get opportunities widely from a global perspective in the field of forestry.

The MoU was signed in the presence of FCRI dean and IFS Priyankaa Varghese and Dr Janaki Alavalapati, Dean, College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, Vinni Nathan Provost, Dr Christopher Roberts, President, Bret Wright, Director, other faculty members and students from Auburn University.

As per the MoU, students from FCRI would visit Auburn University to pursue a Master’s Degree in forestry and related sciences, which was fully funded by Auburn University. This MoU would be in force for six years, and under this programme FCRI would send two students every year to gain more experiential learning in the field of Forestry and Research at Auburn University and would find better placements.

Priyanka Varghese gave credit to Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) for establishing FCRI in Telangana and became the guiding force throughout the journey. Apart from signing of MoU, she made a detailed presentation to the gathering of Auburn University about the establishment, mission, vision and future prospects of Forest College and Research University and also informed that Forest College is deemed to be a University, one among the first universities in the world exclusively for the field of forestry.

She also made a detailed presentation about the Telanganaku Haritha Haram Programme in which the State improved green cover to 7.7 percent from the last eight years. The officials from Auburn University were very impressed, encouraged and motivated by the green works of the Telangana Government. After going through the presentation, the Auburn University delegation asked about the measures taken by the State Government for effective implementation of the Haritha Haram Programme.

The FCRI dean told the Auburn University delegation that, “Political will and encouragement given by KCR to carry out this afforestation programme gave enough legal and financial support to make this successful. The MoU signing between Auburn University and FCRI will help the students to go a long way from the global and international perspective in forestry research, education and various other components of forestry to get better placements in their profession.”