Faculty Members from Chitkara University Join Western Sydney University under Australian Government Fellowship
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ April 15,2025
Three faculty members from Chitkara School of Mass Communication, Chitkara University, Punjab, have been selected for the prestigious Australian Awards Fellowship funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Australian Government. As part of this international fellowship, the team is currently hosted by Western Sydney University, Australia, where they are working on a collaborative research project titled “Paani, Paddy and Punjab: A State at the Crossroads of Environmental Sustainability.”. It is worth mentioning here that as a part of this project, scholars and academicians from Fiji and Indonesia are also collaborating with the Indian contingent.
The team comprises Dr. Ashutosh Mishra, Dean, Dr. Gitanjali Kalia, Associate Professor and Dr. Ripudaman Singh, Assistant Professor, Chitkara School of Mass Communication. Their project addresses the pressing environmental concerns surrounding Punjab’s traditional agricultural practices, particularly the unsustainable cultivation of paddy and the resulting depletion of groundwater resources. With Punjab standing at a critical juncture in its ecological journey, the research aims to explore sustainable agricultural practices and practical solutions to water scarcity in the region.
During their month-long fellowship, the Chitkara faculty are engaging with experts, researchers, and policymakers in Australia to study global best practices in sustainable agriculture, water conservation and environmental communication.
The project emphasizes on the role of media in fostering awareness and driving policy-level change. Through this academic exchange, the team seeks to bring back actionable insights and innovative approaches that can be adapted to the local context in Punjab, contributing meaningfully to the discourse on environmental sustainability.
Faculty Members from Chitkara University Join Western Sydney University under Australian Government Fellowship. This collaboration reflects Chitkara University’s commitment to global partnerships, sustainability, and impactful research that addresses real-world challenges and benefits society at large.
