Indiantelevision.com Team

(17 October 2007 9:00 pm)

MUMBAI: Australian fast bowler Brett Lee will be the brand ambassador of Deakin University's activities in India.

Deakin University Vice-Chancellor Professor Sally Walker said, "I am thrilled that Brett has agreed to help us promote the Deakin India Research Institute (DIRI), and to be the face of Deakin University in India. He is a highly talented young Australian who, through great dedication and hard work, has achieved an enormous amount in test cricket.

"There are a number of components to DIRI which will develop research opportunities both in India and Australia, for the benefit of people in both countries.

"Importantly, Brett will also have a key role in shaping a new charitable fund that is part of the Institute. This fund will support research that makes a difference to the lives of millions of Indians, working on projects such as the setting up of water filtration plans and creating better sanitation programmes."

He says, "There is already a great relationship between Australia and India in cricket and in business. What has attracted me to this relationship with Deakin University is that I am convinced that Deakin is committed to a genuine and equal partnership with India. To be able to exchange research ideas, to have Australian students working in India, and Indian students studying in Australia, is going to help people in both countries."

Deakin University’s next venture will be to come up with an Agriculture Research Institute. The institute would be collaboration with Indigenous Universities with a tie-up with Deakin for certain courses.

Deakin has been in India for the past 10 years, and is currently working with research giant Biocon on bio-technological researches and that is the kind of industry relationships that the Australian Univ is looking forward to sustain in India.