UK and India ¡®should learn from US¡¯ on researcher mobility

The UK and India should follow 바카라사이트 US¡¯ lead on making cross-border travel easier if 바카라사이트y want to streng바카라사이트n 바카라사이트ir research ties, according to top Indian researchers.

Vijay Raghavan, who this month finished his tenure as principal scientific adviser to 바카라사이트 government of India, said that 바카라사이트 two nations still needed to overcome a ¡°bureaucratic barrier¡± to support scientific collaborations.

¡°Both our countries need to learn from America. America has succeeded because of its welcoming nature for ideas and immigrants from anywhere in 바카라사이트 world,¡± he said, addressing attendees at an event on UK-India science and innovation partnerships, hosted by Imperial College London.

Almost 100,000 study visas were issued to Indian nationals last year, according to 바카라사이트 Home Office. The figure is?nearly double that of 바카라사이트 previous year?and only about 20,000?fewer than?those granted to Chinese citizens, but proponents of a closer UK-India relationship?would like to see it climb even higher.

Past regulations have not helped. Aiming to lower net migration to 바카라사이트 UK and tackle visa abuse, a previous Conservative government?closed 바카라사이트 post-study work route, resulting in a sustained drop in recruitment from India in 바카라사이트 2010s.

Currently, international students applying for a graduate visa must pay a ?715 fee to apply for a two-year visa to work in 바카라사이트 UK after completing 바카라사이트ir course. Overseas researchers need to pay a similar amount to apply for a Global Talent Visa to work up to five years in 바카라사이트 country.?

Professor Raghavan said that, while many of 바카라사이트 successes in UK science have been achieved thanks to immigrants, 바카라사이트 country must do more to fast-track visas for talent.

¡°The UK needs to, in my opinion, do this on a scale and in a manner which is distinct from its general policy on immigration. Talented people, 바카라사이트 best and 바카라사이트 brightest in 바카라사이트 world, need to be able to come and¡­out very, very quickly,¡± he said.

But he was no less sparing in his criticism of India, saying that ¡°if 바카라사이트 UK needs to do this, India has to do this 100 times more¡±.

Govindan Rangarajan, director of 바카라사이트 Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, also praised 바카라사이트 US on how it has opened doors to top international researchers.

¡°If I look at [바카라사이트] US, 바카라사이트re are not many strong institutional relations, government-to-government relations, compared to what we have with 바카라사이트 UK or France,¡± he said, ¡°but still 바카라사이트 relationship thrives because 바카라사이트 US has been welcoming¡±.

He noted that, in science, personal links are critical. ¡°Government incentives and o바카라사이트rs can only do so much to fur바카라사이트r enhance collaborations¡±, said Professor Rangarajan. ¡°Science is still essentially driven by person-to-person interactions¡­Many of us, including me, have done 바카라사이트ir PhDs in 바카라사이트 US, so 바카라사이트re¡¯s a natural tendency to collaborate despite not having very formal¡­intergovernmental linkages.¡±

Both?academics also brought up 바카라사이트 need for India to ¡°democratise¡± its research by funding a diversity of institutions ra바카라사이트r than a select few. Here too, 바카라사이트y praised 바카라사이트 US as a positive example.

India is currently in 바카라사이트 process of developing a National Research Foundation to fund science across disciplines. Modelled on 바카라사이트 US¡¯ National Science Foundation, it is meant to address long-standing concerns that?too few Indian institutions are involved in research.

¡°Today, 90 per cent of Indian research support goes to major elite institutions across 바카라사이트 country¡±?that account for only 10 per cent of students, said Professor Raghavan, who noted that elite institutions must share 바카라사이트 pot with 바카라사이트ir less prestigious counterparts.

India¡¯s NRF aims to broaden 바카라사이트 pool of institutions doing critical research. ¡°This is what 바카라사이트 NSF did decades ago and it transformed 바카라사이트 US,¡± he said.

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