Mumbai, 9 April 2025

 

In a significant step toward fostering academic collaboration and strengthening the cooperative sector, the Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management (VAMNICOM), Pune, under the Ministry of Cooperation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Gandhigram Rural Institute (Deemed to be University), Dindigul, Tamil Nadu. The MoU signing ceremony was conducted virtually on 9^th April, 2025, with the documents formally signed by Dr. Panchanathan, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, Gandhigram Rural Institute, and Dr. Hema Yadav, Director, VAMNICOM.

This partnership aims to promote cooperation in the areas of cooperative education, training, research, and capacity building. It envisions collaborative activities such as faculty and student exchange programs, joint research initiatives, inter-institutional exposure visits, and sharing of academic resources. The MoU also provides for the joint organization of seminars, conferences, workshops, and capacity-building programs on mutually relevant themes.

VAMNICOM continues to uphold its status as a premier national institution dedicated to cooperative education, training, research, and consultancy. Recognized as a national center of excellence, the Institute remains deeply committed to advancing cooperative development through capacity building, institutional strengthening, and innovative approaches. VAMNICOM is privileged to collaborate with several esteemed national and international organizations, and its vision is firmly aligned with the broader goals of inclusive growth and cooperative advancement in India and globally. The Gandhigram Rural Institute, administered by the Ministry of Education and fully funded by the University Grants Commission (UGC), is known for its specialized programs in rural development, cooperation, rural sciences, and extension education. Its threefold approach—teaching, research, and extension—has earned it both national and international acclaim. The institute’s participatory and decentralized model of governance, grounded in Gandhian values, exemplifies a holistic approach to rural advancement.

This collaborative initiative gains special significance as it marks an important contribution to the observance of the International Year of Cooperatives – 2025, reaffirming the shared commitment of both institutions to strengthening cooperative education, research, and grassroots development. By aligning their efforts with the global cooperative agenda, VAMNICOM and Gandhigram Rural Institute aim to amplify the role of cooperatives in achieving inclusive and sustainable development.

This MoU aims to promote cooperation in the areas of cooperative education, training, research, and capacity building. The partnership envisions a wide range of collaborative activities including faculty and student exchange programs, joint research initiatives, inter-institutional exposure visits, and sharing of academic and intellectual resources. Furthermore, the MoU includes provisions for jointly organizing seminars, conferences, workshops, and capacity-building programs on themes of mutual relevance. This strategic partnership is expected to yield synergies that strengthen innovation and developmental outcomes in the cooperative sector.

The event was graced by distinguished dignitaries including Dr. L. Radhakrishnan, Registrar; Prof. Meenakshi, Director of Research & Development; and Dr. Tamilmani, Dean, Department of Management Studies from GRI, along with Dr. S. Dharmaraj, Head, Centre for Research and Publication, VAMNICOM. Faculty members from both institutions also participated in the event. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in fostering academic excellence and cooperative sector development through sustained inter-institutional engagement.

 

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PIB Mumbai | EC/ DR

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