Assam, Australia pact on 'cross-cultural analysis' on anvil

GUWAHATI, October 26: An agreement between Assam and Australia on 'Cross-cultural Analysis and Capacity Building in Construction Management Practices' is on the anvil. The proposed pact focuses on housing and infrastructure sectors by adopting best construction management practices and developing a range of solutions in a cross-cultural context between Assam and Australia, officials said. "The project aims at fostering relevant knowledge for augmentation of construction management practice and collaborative capacity building," said Professor Mark Burry, Faculty of Architecture (Urban Futures), Building and Planning, Melbourne School of Design of Melbourne University. Senior faculty members of Melbourne University met Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi here today and discussed the finer points related to the proposed MoU that will be inked by senior officials of the Assam government's education department in Melbourne soon. Gogoi suggested inclusion of smart village concept in the proposed MoU and enhancing skill and capacity building to create employment opportunities to ease the unemployment problem, the officials said. Appreciating the suggestion, Melbourne University faculty said there is a long-felt need to embark on the smart village concept to arrest the rising migration of rural people to towns and cities by ensuring similar facilities in villages. Professor Burry said the project would result in creation of technical and intellectual knowledge and opportunities for sustained growth in a cross-cultural milieu. "The project is highly significant because it addresses a key research area focusing on skills and knowledge relevant to the challenges and opportunities and social inclusivity with focus on housing and infrastructure projects," he added. Partnering with IIT-Guwahati and Assam Engineering College, the project incorporates existing research outcomes vis-a-vis methodology applicable to urban futures, social inclusion and life-cycle management of built environment projects developed by faculty members of Melbourne University, the officials said. The Rs 8.79-crore project will be carried out in three phases over a three year period, they added.