SMVDU Katra, 19thJuly,18. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University and Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi was signed on 19th July 2018. Hon’ble Vice Chancellor Dr. Sanjeev Jain signed on behalf of SMVDU and Member Secretary Dr. Sachchidanand Joshi was the signatory on behalf of IGNCA (an autonomous body of the Ministry of Culture, GoI). The other dignitaries present on this occasion included Prof. V.K. Bhat, Registrar, Prof. D. Mukhopadhyay. Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Dr. Anil Tewari, Head, School of Philosophy & Culture, Sh. Vinod Sharma, Administrative Officer, Sh. Sameer Vohra, AR (Academics) from SMVDU and Dr. B.L. Mall, Project Director, IGNCA. The MoU is to initiate collaborative research projects and the preservation of regional arts and cultural heritage. The faculty and students of SMVDU will now have access to the IGNCA library and archival resources and the faculty at IGNCA would be entitled to guide the research projects at SMVDU. The collaboration will also be in terms of organizing conferences, seminars, workshops, exhibitions, festivals etc., development of digital resources and the offering of credit/non-credit courses to students in the field of Indian Art, Philosophy and Culture, Sanskrit, Textual Research, Vedic studies, Translation studies, Manuscriptology, Oral Traditions, Folklore, traditional knowledge system, Philosophy of religion, Philosophy of art, Performing arts, Storytelling Traditions, cultural informatics, conservation, Diaspora, Media and Communication, Social work and other area studies with the appropriate departments at SMVDU. Initially the MoU is for a period of five years which is extendable as per mutual agreement. It is also agreed that the IGNCA Regional Centre of Jammu and Kashmir will be established at SMVDU Campus as soon as possible.