ALIGARH, July 17: Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the INFLIBNET Centre, Gandhinagar, on Thursday to strengthen digital library services, research support, scholarly communication, capacity building, and academic innovation. The agreement is also expected to significantly enhance the University’s digital research ecosystem and expand academic collaboration.
Speaking on the occasion, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Naima Khatoon described the MoU as a landmark initiative for the University. She said the collaboration would strengthen AMU’s digital research infrastructure, improve access to national-level research support services, promote scholarly communication, and create new opportunities for faculty members, researchers, and students. She expressed confidence that the partnership would further advance the University’s academic growth and research excellence.
The Memorandum of Understanding was formally signed in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor in the presence of Prof. Naima Khatoon, Vice-Chancellor; Prof. Mohd. Mohsin Khan, Pro Vice-Chancellor; Prof. Aasim Zafar, Registrar; Prof. Devika P. Madalli, Director, INFLIBNET Centre; Prof. Nishat Fatima, Officiating University Librarian; Prof Vibha Sharma, MIC, Public Relations Office; Dr.Monawwer Eqbal, Deputy Librarian; and Dr. Syed Shaz Husain, Assistant Librarian, Maulana Azad Library.
A major highlight of the event was the announcement by Prof. Devika P. Madalli, Director, INFLIBNET Centre, that a Regional-Level INFLIBNET Programme will be organized in the coming months, with Aligarh Muslim University serving as the nodal university. The announcement was welcomed enthusiastically and is expected to further reinforce AMU’s position as a leading academic and research hub.
Earlier, the Maulana Azad Library, in collaboration with the INFLIBNET Centre, organized an awareness programme on INFLIBNET services, bringing together Deans, Chairpersons, Directors, faculty members, librarians, researchers, and students to explore the Centre’s digital research support services and their role in strengthening higher education.
Welcoming the participants, Prof. Nishat Fatima emphasized the importance of institutional collaborations in enhancing the University’s digital infrastructure, research capabilities, and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Devika P. Madalli, Director, INFLIBNET Centre, outlined the Centre’s flagship initiatives aimed at strengthening higher education and research in India. She highlighted the Article Processing Charge (APC) support initiative, which helps researchers publish in reputed Open Access journals by reducing the financial burden of publication charges, thereby enhancing the visibility and global reach of Indian research. She also discussed One Nation One Subscription (ONOS), ShodhChakra, and INFLIBNET’s digital platforms for research management, institutional repositories, plagiarism detection, researcher profiling, and scholarly communication.
Addressing the gathering, Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof. Mohd. Mohsin Khan said INFLIBNET has emerged as one of India’s most significant digital support systems for the academic community, while Prof. Ikram Hussain, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, highlighted the importance of national academic information networks in promoting research quality, interdisciplinary collaboration, and institutional visibility.
An interactive technical session by Dr. Abhishek Kumar, Scientist ‘F’, INFLIBNET Centre, provided participants with a comprehensive demonstration of INFLIBNET’s digital platforms and research support services. Addressing a wider cross-section of library users, including faculty members, research scholars, students, librarians, and independent researchers, he explained how these resources can be effectively utilized for literature discovery, research management, plagiarism detection, researcher profiling, institutional repositories, and scholarly communication, enabling users to maximize the benefits of the national digital research infrastructure. Dr. Kumar’s session proved highly fruitful to the faculty members, research scholars and students.
The programme, conducted by Dr. Syed Shaz Husain, Assistant Librarian, concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Asif Fareed Siddiqui, Deputy Librarian.