MoU on 'Cross-cultural Analysis and Capacity Building in Construction Management Practices' between Assam, Australia to be inked soon

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Monday met senior faculty members of Melbourne University and discussed the finer points pertaining to the MoU that will be signed by senior officials of Education Department, Government of Assam in Melbourne soon.

In course of the discussion, Gogoi suggested for inclusion of smart village concept in the MoU and enhancing skill and capacity building to create employment opportunities to ease out the unemployment problem.

Faculty of Melbourne University while appreciating Chief Minister’s suggestion said there is a long-felt need to embark on the smart village concept to arrest the rising migration of rural people to the towns and cities by ensuring similar facilities in villages. 

The MoU on the anvil focuses on housing and infrastructure sectors by adopting best construction management practices and developing a range of solutions in a cross-cultural context between the State of Assam and Australia.

“Focusing on housing and infrastructure sectors, the project aims at fostering relevant knowledge for augmentation of construction management practice and collaborative capacity building,” Professor Mark Burry, Faculty of Architecture (Urban Futures), Building and Planning, Melbourne School of Design, Melbourne University said.

Professor Burry pointed out that the project would result in creation of technical and intellectual knowledge and opportunities for sustained growth in a cross-cultural milieu.

“The project is highly significant because it addresses a key research area focusing on skills and knowledge relevant to the challenges and opportunities and social inclusivity with focus on housing and infrastructure projects,” Professor Burry said.

Partnering with IIT Guwahati and Assam Engineering College, the project incorporates existing research outcomes vis-a-vis methodology applicable to urban futures, social inclusion and life-cycle management of built environment projects developed by faculty members of Melbourne University.

The Rs 8.79 crore project will be carried out in three phases over a three-year period.

The meeting was attended, among others, by Chief Secretary VK Pipersenia, Principal Secretary, Education, Paban Kumar Borthakur, Principal Secretary, Finance, Dr. Ravi Kota, Senior lecturer (Construction & Project Management), Melbourne School of Design, University of Melbourne, Dr. Hemanta Doloi.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)