Prof. Rizwanul Haque, Department of Biotechnology, Dean School of Earth, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Dr. Jawaid Ahsan, Assistant Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Central University of South Bihar (CUSB) were invited by Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan to visit the laboratory of Dr. Atsushi Miyashita, Senior Researcher at the Antifungal Immunobiology Lab, Institute of Medical Mycology, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan for research collaboration, formalization of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), aiming for internationalization and globalization of CUSB. Prof. Rizwan has vast experience in the field of immunology, cancer biology, stem cell biology using in vitro and in vivo models, and Dr. Jawaid is a neuroscientist working in the field of neurotoxicity, learning and memory using the fruit fly Drosophila as model system. During the visit, Prof. Rizwan and Dr. Jawaid learned the techniques of silkworm culture in laboratory, that will help in setting up the silkworm research facility at CUSB for collaborative research with Teikyo University involving Japanese Government International Research Grant.

Silkworm is a useful alternative model system for toxicity assays, drug screening, immunological studies, its metabolic pathways are similar to humans. The development of silkworm research facility will also be helpful for the silk industry in the state of Bihar. They also met Professor Tsuyoshi YAMADA there who works in the field of antifungal drug resistance in dermatophytes for possible research collaborations. They discussed the proposed MoU with Prof. Rui Kano (Head, Institute of Medical Mycology, Teikyo University) and Prof. Koichi Makimura, Vice Director and Professor at Teikyo University, and invited them to visit CUSB for the formalization of MoU in near future. The Hon'ble Vice-Chancellor Prof. Kameshwar Nath Singh and the Registrar Prof. Narendra Kumar Rana have congratulated and appreciated the efforts of Prof. Rizwan and Dr. Jawaid, wishing for fruitful and productive academic collaborations between CUSB and Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan.

The proposed MoU between Central University of South Bihar and Teikyo University will enable the exchange of students and faculty members for attending courses, teaching courses, and doing collaborative research work including the credit transfer for the students. That will be a step forward towards internationalization and globalization of higher education in CUSB, well in line with the National Education Policy, 2020. This will also provide opportunities for skill development and increasing employability among the stakeholders including students. This is also the vision of Central University of South Bihar, to connect with the community. The faculty members of Department of Biotechnology Prof. Rakesh Kumar (Head), Prof. Durg Vijai Singh, Dr. Nitish Kumar, Dr. Krishna Prakash and Dr. Pratishtha Sonker have also congratulated Prof. Rizwan and Dr. Jawaid for their successful academic tour of Teikyo University.