New Indian Ambassador visits DCU

The Indian Ambassador to Ireland, HE Smt. Radhika Lol Lokesh was welcomed on her first visit to DCU by Professor Brian MacCraith, President of DCU, Dr John Doyle, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and the recently appointed Director of the Ireland India Institute, Dipti Pandya.

Professor Brian MacCraith said,
“I am delighted to welcome HE Smt, Radhika Lal Lokesh to DCU. Engagement with contemporary India is a strategic priority of the University.  For many years faculty and researchers from DCU have been engaged in collaborative work with colleagues in Indian universities including IIT Madras, IISC Bangalore, JNU and IIT Delhi and others. The support of the Indian Embassy in Ireland is an essential part of building on these relationships and it is our intention to be a partner of the Embassy in Ireland for their mission in building Ireland-India relationships. It is for this shared objective that we established the Ireland India Institute.”

Her Excellency, Smt. Radhika Lal Lokesh comes to Ireland following recent postings in Brussels, Lagos and Pretoria. She has also served as Deputy Permanent Representative / Deputy Chief of Mission in Vienna and Berne and as Consul General in St Petersburg.  During her stints at headquarters, she served in Europe West, Investment Technology Promotion and Policy Planning Divisions. Her last assignment was as Additional Secretary in the Development Partnership Administration of the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi.

DCU has recently appointed Dipti Pandya as Director of the Ireland India Institute.

Welcoming this appointment, Dr John Doyle, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences said,

“Dipti brings a wealth of experience to this role, not least from her term as Director of the Irish Research Council for Humanities and Social Sciences. This appointment will enable DCU to greatly advance the profile and activity of the Institute.”

Building on DCU’s track record in research and academic collaboration with India, the Ireland India Institute will provide a national forum for Ireland-Indian partnership and engagement. This will include a Public Lecture series, practical support for collaboration through initiatives such as the Ireland India Institute Research Fund, Ireland India Institute Scholarships and the development of knowledge exchange activities between business and academia in Ireland and India.

Pictured are (from l to r): Dipti Pandya, Director, Ireland India Institute, HE Smt.Radhika Lal Lokesh, Indian Ambassador, Professor Brian MacCraith, President, DCU and Dr John Doyle, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, DCU.