NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, JAN 6
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Institute of Defence Studies and Research (IDSR) that would enable IAF officers to undertake doctoral research and post-graduate programmes in various areas, according to an official statement on Wednesday.
The IDSR is an autonomous institution of Gujarat University.
The event held on a virtual platform on December 29 was chaired by Air Officer-in-Charge Personnel, Air Marshal RJ Duckworth. The MoU was signed by Air Vice-Marshal Rajeev Sharma, Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Education) and Anju Sharma, IAS, Principal Secretary (Higher & Technical Education) to Government of Gujarat and Chairperson-IDSR. Prof Himanshu A Pandya, Vice-Chancellor of Gujarat University and Director-General IDSR were also present on the occasion, the Defence ministry’s statement noted.
“The MoU will enable officers of IAF to undertake doctoral research, post-graduate programme and post-graduate diploma covering various areas of interest that includes defence studies, defence management, national security, aerospace and aviation science and other areas of defence technology,” it mentioned.
As part of Project Akashdeep, the IAF has entered into such partnerships with various prestigious academic institutions to promote research by officers and create a pool of think tanks with strategic knowledge and intellectual skills. The expertise of these officers would contribute towards the formulation of sound strategic plan and policies in the advent of hybrid Military Operations, the ministry said.