Assam to sign MoU with Melbourne varsity on construction management

GUWAHATI: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the State of Assam and Australia on ‘Cross-cultural Analysis and Capacity Building in Construction Management Practices’ will be signed soon.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Monday met senior faculty members of Melbourne University and discussed the finer points pertaining to the MoU that will be signed by senior officials of Education Department, Government of Assam in Melbourne soon, an official source informed.
In course of the discussion, Gogoi suggested inclusion of smart village concept in the MoU and enhancing skill and capacity building to create employment opportunities to ease out the unemployment problem.
The MoU on the anvil 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.
“Focusing on housing and infrastructure sectors, 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, Melbourne University.
Professor Burry pointed out that 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 Rs 8.79 crore project will be carried out in three phases over a three-year period.