NEW DELHI: Looking to deepen its engagement with India, Cambridge University plans to soon start senior fellowship programme where the participants would spend a significant part of their time in the country.

UK-based University of Cambridge, one of the oldest in the world, already has about 270 active projects in India.

"Discussions are on for Cambridge India senior fellowships that would allow people to engage with Cambridge while based here in India and helping Cambridge work on projects," Cambridge University Vice Chancellor Leszek Borysiewicz told PTI in an interview.

Among others, St John's College that comes under Cambridge University has Dr Manmohan Singh Scholarships. The former Prime Minister is an alumnus of the university.

"We will be looking at the establishment of five-year fellowships, a quite senior level, and for individuals to spend a period of time in Cambridge. It would be above PhD (level).

"They (those getting fellowships) will spend more than 60 per cent of time actually on the ground working in projects, supporting them here (India) and contributing to projects here," Borysiewicz said.

Responding to a query on whether these fellowships would start next year, Borysiewicz said, "I sincerely hope so".

Besides, the university is looking for new alliances in India especially in the areas of plant sciences and food security.

"I am also looking to establish partnerships in arts and humanities... with every partnership we do, what we are looking for is complementarity," the Vice Chancellor said.

Describing India as an incredibly vibrant country, he said the partnerships being forged with Indian institutions is really important for the university.

"We can work together and address some deep global issues not just some (issues) for ourselves and India," he noted.

Borysiewicz has been at the helm of the university since October 2010.

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