On the occasion of Amma’s program in Piacenza, Italy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham took major steps towards international collaboration through two important academic agreements. The Memorandums of Understanding were inked in the divine presence of Amma as Chancellor.
One of the MoUs is with the Govt of Italy’s premier scientific institution: the National Research Council (CNR). Amrita will collaborate with its Institute for Geo-Hydrological Protection (IRPI). The agreement was signed by Dr Maneesha V. Ramesh, Amrita’s Pro Vice Chancellor, and Dr Tommaso Moramarco, Director, IRPI.
Although a scientist, Dr Tommaso Moramarco shared how this first meeting with Amma left him in wonder on a deeply spiritual level.
“Thank you for giving me a completely new experience. I am a researcher, and I didn’t know Amma, but she surprised me. I live in the land of St. Francis of Assisi, and I found Amma’s mission to be very much in line with St. Francis,” he said in his address.
“It was Amma who inspired the universities represented here and gave us the strength to be convinced of what we are doing by signing the MoU. With this, we aim to contribute to mitigating climate change. What Amma is doing is truly important for the people of India and Italy.”
This partnership opens a new gateway for joint research in areas such as geohazards, hydrology, disaster resilience, and environmental protection. It addresses societal challenges through science and compassion, aligning with Amma’s vision.
The second MoU was formalised, which had been signed between Amrita and the University of Roma Tre. Dr Giovanni Formica, Head of its Department of Architecture, represented the rector of Roma Tre. The collaboration seeks to promote academic exchange, joint research, and innovation in the domains of sustainable architecture, climate resilience, and community-based design.
“I hope that the collaboration that we were extremely happy to sign with Amrita University will not only be a scientific agreement but also a cultural and human agreement,” said Dr Giovanni Formica. “I’m hoping that this agreement will open up new opportunities for scholars, students, and the entire community.”
These new steps will enhance Amrita’s global research footprint and foster impactful partnerships in education, innovation, and humanitarian development. The occasion had deeper meaning with the presence of Amma, who inspires the ethos of compassion-driven research at the university.
With these new alliances, Amrita continues to grow into one of the leading international universities committed to developing solutions for a sustainable and inclusive future.
