Maintaining that education and knowledge are no longer the prerogatives of the western world, the president of Nanyang Technological University,  Bertil Andersson stressed that research is the frontline of knowledge and that leading universities and institutions get to the top by having the right leadership and vision. Andersson was conferred the Doctorate of Science (Honoris Causa) by SRM at a special convocation at the Kattankulathur campus.
Educated at Umeå and Lund Universities in Sweden, Professor Andersson was installed as NTU’s third president in 2011. Currently a member of the Board of Trustees of the Nobel Foundation, Andersson has been a member of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry (chairing it in 1997).

“Academics is no longer confined to the heavy weights of Europe; American institutions in Asia have started marking their presence. Knowledge has become global,” Andersson said, going on to make a point that strides made by Singapore in the realm of education is by no means a small achievement as two of its universities are in the top global ratings. “NTU is an inspiration to Asia and India,” he said and added, “In the future, SRM will receive many Nobel prizes.” A plant biochemist of international repute, Andersson has authored more than 300 papers in research pertaining to photosynthesis, biological membranes, protein and membrane purification, and light stress on plants.

“Small ideas go on to make bigger things,” said Nicholas Dirks, Chancellor of the University of California at Berkeley, USA who was also conferred with a Doctorate of Literature (Honoris Causa). The Founder Chancellor of SRM University, T R Pachamuthu can now see the fruits of his labour. He started a small and fledgling institution, which has grown into a great university.  It is ideas of this kind that are critical for Tamil Nadu, India and the world. Dirks stressed that universities not only produce knowledge but are also guardians to make the world a better place. An anthropologist, Dirks is a prolific writer of books, articles and papers, and has always been fascinated by India.