NAGPUR (Dispatches) -- Vasantrao Naik Government Institute of Arts and Social Sciences (VNGIASS) signed an MoU with the Culture House of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in Nariman Point, Mumbai, for an academic exchange program for Persian students and faculty members.
“The Persian department of VNGIASS, also popularly known as Morris College, has one of the best faculty members and scholars. Under the MoU, both entities will work together in partnership to foster and encourage cooperation in education, research, and cultural exchange,” said Prof. Mazhar Alam Siddique, coordinator of Culture House.
Siddique, a former head of the Persian department, said it was his dream to have a tie-up with Iran, but it couldn’t materialize during his tenure. 
“The organizations aim to leverage their distinct strengths and seek to identify and develop mutually beneficial programs, thereby benefiting students and society,” he said. 
Under the initiative, conferences, seminars, workshops, cultural and film festivals are planned. “The MoU also aims to initiate necessary steps to start an Iran Chair at the institution,” Siddique said.
He added that research on Iranology (literature, linguistics, food, music, culture, and history), work for the establishment of a section of Iranology in the library, exchange of faculty, and exchange of students/research scholars will also be done.
“We will try to develop conversation skills among the students of Persian through online and offline modes,” he said.
The MoU was signed between Muhammad Reza Fazel Koohani, director of the Culture House of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and VNGIASS director and Professor Manohar Kumbhare and Ashish Shende, assistant professor and head, department of Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology, VNGIASS.
“Persian students and scholars will get a chance to pursue internships in Iran. We can also hold an Iran Film Festival at our institute. Under the student exchange, our students will be able to widen their scope and explore employment opportunities. Iran authorities will offer scholarships for PhD scholars. In the teacher exchange program, our faculty members will get sponsorship to visit Iran and study its culture,” said Prof Kumbhare.