Monday (March 7th, 2022) has been a landmark day, when WII has signed an agreement with the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR); through the agreement, WII will be recognized as AcSIR’s Associate Academic Center, for obtaining both M.Sc. and PhD degrees from AcSIR. AcSIR was established by an Act of Parliament, viz. the Academy of Scientific Innovative Research Act, 2011 notified by the Central Government vide The Gazette of India notification No.15 dated February 7, 2012. It is also recognized as an ‘Institution of National Importance’ (INI) with a goal to create the highest quality personnel with cross- disciplinary knowledge, aiming to provide leaders in the field of science and technology. AcSIR recognizes 53 National Institutes of the country including all CSIR institutions.
The MoU was signed by the Director of WII, Dr. Dhananjai Mohan, and the Director of AcSIR, Dr. Rajender S Sangwan in Dehradun in presence of other higher officials of both the Institution. As part of this MoU, students will be mentored by WII scientists, who would be recognized as honorary faculty of AcSIR. There is also future scope of widened programs/activities that may be taken up jointly by AcSIR and WII, as and when required. Over the last decades, WII’s M.Sc. Wildlife science course has emerged as one of the leading course for aspiring wildlife science students in the Asia-Pacific region. The next batch of the course is now likely to commence from August 2022 at WII for award of first AcSIR degree.