Amrita University's rural programme tie-up with US varsity

The Amrita University in Kerala Friday launched a pioneering experiential learning programme that encourages the youth to live and experience the problems in the country's villages.

As part of the programme, the Amrita University signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the University of California (UC), San Diego, to enhance research and student exchanges.

The varsity's Amrita Centre for International Programs floated its new 'Amrita Live-in-Labs' on the 60th birthday of the world-renowned spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi Devi here.

The scheme envisages students of Amrita and those from some of the best global universities to live in Indian villages for six months to understand the rural population's health, hygiene, energy, water, waste and environment problems.

The idea behind the Amrita Live-in-Labs came early this year when Amma spoke in Delhi at spiritual leader Swami Vivekananda's 150th birthday celebrations.

In her inaugural address in the national capital in January 2013, Amma had suggested a way to ensure that at least one child from every family served in rural areas for one year after completing graduation.

The MoU will facilitate exchanges of faculty, undergraduate and graduate students, post-doctoral scholars, joint research projects and publications, virtual labs, materials and special short-term programmes and visits.