international collaboration – The KGP Chronicle

IIT Kharagpur and University of Leeds Sign MoU for Joint Supervision of PhD Programs

Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur signed of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Leeds (UoL) in recognition of the growing importance of India and a long-term partnership with University of Leeds. This collaboration aims to enhance academic and research cooperation through the joint supervision of PhD programs in the fields of Civil Engineering, Transport Studies, and Biological Sciences.

A team from IIT Kharagpur was invited to join the University of Leeds’ 25-Year Celebrations in Delhi on the 28th of June 2024. This special occasion also featured the signing of the Joint External Supervision Agreement, commemorating the longstanding relationship between University of Leeds and IIT Kharagpur. The signing comes at an opportune moment for IITKGP, hot on the heels of a 13-member team visit of faculty members from IIT Kharagpur to University of Leeds during June 4-6, 2024.

Prof. Rabibrata Mukherjee, Dean, International Relations, IIT Kharagpur, opined that “IIT KGP is excited to team up with University of Leeds to explore the diversity of academic partnership. Under the aegis of the MoU, several activities have been carried out including joint research projects, exchange of students and faculty members, joint guidance of student thesis, etc. To further strengthen the collaboration, the two Institutes now have the External Joint Supervision Agreement, which will immensely benefit doctoral students, wherein they will receive mentorship and guidance from faculty members of both the Institutes. The initial themes of collaboration that have been identified are Clean Energy for All, Sustainable Transport, Resilient Infrastructure, Healthcare and Well-Being, Chemicals and Waster, and Water and Sanitation which also address some of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.”

University of Leeds

Prof. Manuel Barcia, Dean of Global Engagement at the University of Leeds, commented on the partnership, saying, “We are thrilled to embark on this collaborative journey with IIT Kharagpur. This MoU not only strengthens our international ties but also underscores our commitment to fostering global academic excellence. By integrating our research capabilities and academic expertise, we are paving the way for innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. This partnership will undoubtedly enhance the educational experience for our students and contribute to groundbreaking advancements starting with the fields of Civil Engineering, Transport Studies, and Biological Sciences. We are optimistic that as this partnership strengthens further, we will broaden our collaboration to other subject areas to benefit more students, researchers and the world at large.”

In an endeavour to continue the path of sustained collaboration with University of Leeds, IIT KGP has already started discussions on the ‘Jointly Funded Bilateral Mobility Agreement’ and it is also expected that IIT KGP will be a part of the ‘Joint Virtual Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Development’ which is being envisioned by the University of Leeds.

IIT Kharagpur

In addition to the above, IIT KGP is also looking into the possibility of participating in the ‘Leeds International Partners Conference’ which is slotted to take place in December 2024 and will be the first of its kind for Leeds. It is expected that this would give IIT KGP an opportunity to make its existing collaboration with the University of Leeds more robust and effectively use the platform to engage with its partners and share knowledge on topics of mutual interest.

This collaboration between the University of Leeds and IIT Kharagpur is poised to have a transformative impact on the future of higher education and research in both countries. By combining the strengths of two leading institutions, this partnership will foster an environment of innovation, creativity, and intellectual exchange. Students and researchers will benefit from diverse perspectives and cutting-edge resources, paving the way for groundbreaking discoveries and advancements.

Also, by working together to tackle global issues, this MoU will serve as an example of international cooperation. Biological sciences, transport studies, and civil engineering are among the fields where the merger of knowledge and experience from both institutions would not only improve research and education quality but also help solve important problems. Through this relationship, other universities will be inspired to explore comparable projects to strengthen international academic and research networks and set the standard for future collaborations.

The new partnership is in line with both institutes’ strategic objectives to promote multidisciplinary research and broaden their global networks. The University of Leeds and IIT Kharagpur are sure that their partnership will result in ground-breaking findings and have a long-lasting effect on society.

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By : Poulami Mondal, Digital & Creative Media Executive (Creative Writer)
Email: poulami.mondal@iitkgp.ac.in, media@iitkgp.ac.in, Ph. No.: +91-3222-282007

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IIT Kharagpur and The University of Manchester Launch Dual Doctoral Programme

IIT Kharagpur and The University of Manchester are pleased to announce the launch of a dual award PhD programme which represents the next phase of our strategic partnership. This will serve to consolidate and build on existing research collaborations across a number of thematic areas including environmental geochemistry, biomaterials and Industry 4.0. Students will be jointly recruited and spend time in both Manchester and Kharagpur, benefiting from the expertise, facilities and infrastructure of two globally renowned institutions.

The programme, launching this July, will be open to IIT and IISc graduates from India during its initial phase. Successful candidates will be required to enrol at both institutions spending the first year at IIT Kharagpur with the remaining time on the programme split between The University of Manchester and IIT Kharagpur according to the project requirements as determined by the supervisors and the Joint Programme Board.

Both institutions will be responsible for making their own award but the two components would form a single research experience managed cooperatively by both institutions. The successful doctoral candidates will receive parchments from both Institutions – each prominently mentioning the joint nature of the work and the partner institute’s name.

While IIT Kharagpur has already established similar programmes with universities in Australia, New Zealand and Canada, this is the first time such a joint programme has been set up with a British university.

Prof. Baidurya Bhattacharya, Former Dean International Relations at IIT Kharagpur who was instrumental in setting up this programme remarked, “This Dual Award PhD is a unique partnership made possible by the trust and respect we have developed over the years for each other’s research quality and academic standards. Starting from defining the doctoral project, selection and admission of the student, to supervision, thesis work and evaluation, and finally award of the degree, everything is jointly administered. I believe this programme will provide the template for equal partnership between IITs and top British universities in the future.”

As a core component of its international strategy, The University of Manchester is entering into a small number of dual award PhD programmes with prestigious partner institutions around the world.

Professor Stephen Flint, Associate Vice-President International, The University of Manchester, said: “The dual PhD with IIT Kharagpur is testament to the University’s strategic ambitions to build world-class research links with India and to encourage more student mobility between the two regions.” He further added, “The University of Manchester established research partnerships with IIT Kharagpur some years ago and this dual award PhD programme is the next step in deepening our relationship, with academic colleagues in both institutions sharing supervision of the PhD students, who will spend 2 years in Manchester and 2 years in Kharagpur.”

Faculty members from the two institutions will jointly define projects which are approved by a Joint Progamme Board. As per the umbrella MoU signed in 2017, some of the areas for potential joint projects include Biomedical Informatics, Advanced Materials, Smart Textiles, and Earth-Environment-Water Sciences. Several potential collaborations between faculty members of both institutions have already been identified with the encouragement of the development of further collaborations. Under this programme, full and partial funding will be available on a competitive basis for four years for a select number of suitably qualified and progressing students.

For more information visit https://international.iitkgp.ac.in/ or contact ir-office@adm.iitkgp.ac.in

Contact: Office of International Relations, IIT Kharagpur, Email: adeanir@adm.iitkgp.ac.in;

Media: media@iitkgp.ac.in; Facebook: @IITKgp Twitter: @IITKgp Instagram: @iit.kgp

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New Normal Thrust to International Research Outreach

The Ministry of Education has released a grant for the amount of ₹ 80 crores to IIT Kharagpur for the Scheme for Promotion of Academic & Research Collaboration (SPARC) Programme which is aimed to promote international research outreach. The Institute which is the national coordinator of the programme is working along with 450 institutions in India and 470 institutions worldwide since the inception of the programme in 2018.

In 2019-20, more than 300 international experts visited Indian institutions registered under SPARC for various projects and workshops. Close to 400 research proposals have been approved for funding to date. Over 26% of the R&D proposals and international outreach are focused on Emergent Areas of Impact which included areas such as Advanced Electronics and Communication, Advanced Functional and Meta Materials, Structural Genomics and Evolutionary Biology, Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Science, Infectious Disease & Clinical Research. This segment was followed by Action-Oriented Research with a 24% accepted proposals in areas including Future of Earth: Green and Renewable Technologies, River, Ocean, Aviation and Space Management Technology, Technology Enhanced Education and Learning, including Assistive Technologies, Agricultural and Food Sustainability, Technologies for Rural and Women Empowerment, Law and Society. Convergence areas of research is another significant segment with 22% proposals in areas covering Transportation and Smart Infrastructure, Affordable Health Care, Advanced Manufacturing, Science and Heritage, Energy and Water Sustainability.

“The data indicates a clear shift towards transdisciplinary research addressing global challenges and cutting-edge research. The insights will further boost international collaboration opportunities for science and technology institutes in India by aligning their thrust areas with global trends,” remarked Prof. Virendra K Tewari, Director, IIT Kharagpur.

The participation from USA, Australia and UK witnessed highest visits covering close to 65% of the international faculty visitors in 2019-20. The slump in 2020 though was expected, work was carried out through online conferences. In one such initiative, IIT Kharagpur organized the International Conference on ‘Emerging Trends in Healthcare Technology in Post-COVID-19 Era’ with expert participation from USA, UK, Australia, Sweden, South Africa, The Netherlands, India and Shri Amit Khare, Secretary, Dept. of Higher Education, Govt. of India.

Following the initial success of SPARC despite the disruptions in 2020, the Ministry has released the funding for phase two of the programme. Earlier this month Shiksha Mantri Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank had announced the release of the funds on his social media handles.

Talking about the road ahead, Prof. Adrijit Goswami from IIT Kharagpur who is heading the Pan India coordination of the programme said, “Going online is the new normal roadmap at least for programmes like SPARC and GIAN. While online mode has its drawbacks, on the brighter side it may swell the opportunities especially for those who otherwise find such collaborative work arduous due to extended physical visits.”

“With phase two funding of ₹ 80 crores and the structured format of e-workshops, webinars, online classes and even research in virtual mode, the scope for productive academic collaborations at the SPARC-approved collaborating Institutes look promising,” he added.

Contact:

Project: Prof. Adrijit Goswami, Email: goswami@maths.iitkgp.ac.in; Web: https://sparc.iitkgp.ac.in/

Media: Shreyoshi Ghosh, shreyoshi@adm.iitkgp.ac.in

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You’re Home: IIT Kharagpur tells international students

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An early morning tweet on Earth Day woke up a few students at IIT Kharagpur. A fellow Kgpian student, pursuing internship at Georgia, Atlanta, USA, had tweeted seeking help from the Indian authorities in the lockdown situation. Her friends from IIT Kharagpur got in action and shared her message on IIT Kharagpur’s social media handle. Finally the stranded student was connected with IITKGP Foundation, the alumni body of the Institute in USA, who are now trying to help her reach out to the alumni in the region.

Few days prior to this incident, another such call was made for some IIT students stranded in Germany and Sweden. The IITs are reaching out to the alumni in the respective region to connect with these students under distress. International students across the globe are sharing their concerns regarding their fellowships/grants, visa status, residency protocols as the world has come to a standstill with COVID-19 Lockdown. But what is happening at the home front? The Kgp Chronicle presents an account of the international students outreach at IIT Kharagpur.

IIT Kharagpur at present is hosting students and researchers from 12 countries – Afghanistan, Bhutan, Colombia, Ethiopia, France, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Russia, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. The Institute is assuring its international students making them feel home away from home while facilitating their academics, stay, residency and other protocols.

The Office of International Relations (OIR) has created an online forum to reach out to the students on a daily basis. The Office shares relevant Institute notices on this forum. The foreign scholars are encouraged to share their concerns and these are addressed as much as possible under these difficult times.

OIR also extended assistance towards extension of visa and processing of scholarship to avoid any disruption of stay and other facilities availed by these students. Some students who have gone home after the mid semester examination are being assisted by the Office and their respective embassies to network with the Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. of India to arrange for their return when the semester resumes.

“Several international students are receiving financial aid under international programs run by us and outreach bodies of the Govt. of India. We have ensured that they receive their scholarships on time. We are constantly in touch with the students and are committed towards their wellbeing. With every passing day we assure them there is nothing to worry, like every other student, IIT Kharagpur campus is their home away from home,” Prof. Anandaroop Bhattacharya, Associate Dean, International Relations.

Dr. Than Htike Win from Myanmar who is pursuing research work at the Dept. of Metallurgical & Materials Engineering shared his experience during the lockdown period. As his fellowship period gets over at the end of June 2020, he is trying to progress during this phase, in particular the analysis of his research completed till now and planning to finalize the remaining research work and write the reports.

Solomon Demiss, visiting research scholar from Ethiopia at the Institute’s Dept. of Metallurgical & Materials Engineering has been pursuing his research work through interactions with his guide and fellow team members, reading and writing reports. Solomon was delighted with the gesture of his fellow students to assist him with procuring necessary supplies from the market while he is managing his condition of physical challenge and social distancing.

The students are using this isolation period to extensively improve their knowledge base through optimal use of eLearning platforms. Tamim Boubou, who is pursuing MTech in Control System Engineering at the Dept. of Electrical Engineering, was planning to go home to Syria during the summer recess. But now he is utilising the summer-time by attending online video lectures and taking part in summer projects.

“I actually enjoyed the online video classes, they are more comfortable and in my view are quite interactive, you can record the session and go back to a certain point whenever needed, in short, it is a good experience,” he said. The summer project he has currently undertaken is related to his Masters Thesis Project which is scheduled in the next semester.

Tamim is excited about the online group created by the Office of International Relations for international students where they are being updated frequently with all new announcements.

“Almost everyday we are being checked upon, if there is anything missing that we need, same for all mess and hostel facilities, everyone is so cooperative,” he remarked.

Similar thought is echoed by Charles Munyaradzi from Zimbabwe who is pursuing postdoctoral fellowship in biomedical research. Though he has going through acclimatization with the Indian summers and sceptical about his scholarship as his banking formalities got delayed due to lockdown, he appreciates the regular flow of communication which gives him an assurance in the current circumstances while being in a foreign land.

Several students also plans to seek assistance from the office for renewal of their passport and residence permit, after the lockdown is relaxed and the embassies resume regular operations.

The students are interacting with their classmates online for joint study, research ideas, games. Some of them are putting their extra time to use by testing their cooking talents. The Office has also provided them with home and kitchen appliances which are useful now during the social distancing period.

Contemplating on the impact of the pandemic situation on the internationalization efforts of IIT Kharagpur, Dean International Relations Baidurya Bhattacharya opined,

“At IIT Kharagpur, we understand internationalization to mean presenting our best to the service of humanity, and in turn, to bring what is best in the world into our campus. Just as this exchange includes the movement of people, it equally well involves the give and take of ideas, free thought and knowledge. As we come out of this pandemic, we will see some short term changes. A lot of national resources will be devoted by every country in rebuilding their economies. Movement of people will probably reduce somewhat, and that will include faculty and students. But the free flow of knowledge and goodwill between the home and the world will continue.”

The Dean is planning to strengthen and expand the joint academic programs of the Institute with its international partners, conducting more joint research, proposing for more multi-agency grant applications.

An optimistic Prof. Bhattacharya said, “We will have more online interactions, and we will learn more from each other in how to make the world a safer, kinder and more equitable place – because in the end, we are all in it together.”

Scholarships for Doctoral Students from Australia

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In a significant boost to its ongoing academic exchange programs with Australian institutions, IIT Kharagpur has instituted competitive high-value scholarships for students from the University of Melbourne, Australia enrolled under the Dual Doctoral Program jointly conducted by the two institutions. Prof. Sriman Kumar Bhattacharyya, the Director (Officiating) of IIT Kharagpur made the announcement at the launch of the Melbourne India Partnership Program and Academy Conference at Melbourne on December 9, 2019.

Each student would receive an annual funding of AUD 30000 (approximately INR 14.6 Lakh) – an amount equal to their home scholarships – which would cover their tuition and other fees, living expenses and travel costs for the program. The scholarship which will be highly competitive will be offered initially to two inbound foreign students from the prestigious Australian university starting from academic year 2020-21.

Apart from University of Melbourne, IIT Kharagpur conducts joint doctoral programs with several world-class Australian universities such as Curtin, Wollongong and James Cook, designed to build academic and research collaborations from the grounds up. Admission into the joint doctoral programs is highly competitive, and successful progress requires rigorous time-bound adherence to milestones that are acceptable to both institutions. The student carries out his/her research under the joint supervision of faculty members from both institutions and needs to spend a minimum of one year at the partner institution. A single thesis is written and submitted to both institutions who then review it to their own exacting standards. If the thesis is accepted by both institutions, the student is awarded the joint doctoral degree.

Since its launch in 2018, nine students from IIT Kharagpur have enrolled in the joint doctoral program with University of Melbourne while one student from the University of Melbourne came to IIT Kharagpur under the DDP.

“We realized that there is a need for providing financial assistance to the foreign students as many of them support their families back home with their stipend. Just as our students studying in top foreign universities are funded under various scholarship and fellowship schemes, If we want to attract high quality international students, it is essential that we provide competitive scholarships,” opined Prof. Baidurya Bhattacharya, Dean, International Relations at IIT Kharagpur, part of the Institute’s delegation to Melbourne.

In addition to Australia, IIT Kharagpur is also setting up joint doctoral programs with University of Auckland in New Zealand and the University of Alberta in Canada. The Institute is further exploring to expand the scope of such dual degree programs and funding opportunities to other foreign students especially in ASEAN and SAARC regions.

“We have been awarded the status of Institution of Eminence by the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India, earlier this year. It is among our foremost objectives now to reach out to various international zones from where we can expect talents to come and study in India in general and at IIT Kharagpur in particular without adding much to their financial burden for achieving high quality education at par with top global universities. What better place they can get it other than the IITs,” remarked Prof. Sriman Kumar Bhattacharyya.

Earlier this year the Institute saw a surge in inbound applications from foreign students on the launch of Asoke Dey Sarkar International Program, a scholarship opportunity for Masters and Doctoral students.

The delegate from IIT Kharagpur had also met Indian students at Melbourne pursuing doctoral and post doctoral research in Australia for interaction related to prospective academic career options at IIT Kharagpur. The event was organised by the IIT Alumni Victoria Association. The next interactive session is scheduled on December 11 at Auckland.

International Outreach Programme @ VGSOM

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IIT Kharagpur’s Vinod Gupta School of Management has signed an MoU with Singapore Management University for ‘SMU-IITKGP Inclusive and Immersive Experiential Learning (I2XL) Programme’. The programme is aimed at providing a managerial education and business school experience like no other – one that encourages students to apply classroom concepts in a global business environment. The scope of the MoU will include student projects and immersion programmes, reciprocal exchange of research and teaching staff, research and other collaborations.

The programme is focused on enriching the students with managerial concepts through classroom lectures on portfolio management, alternative investments, innovation and entrepreneurship, and technological adaptation. Another feature of the programme was industry interactions regarding practical challenges in financial markets. The programme has been designed with a two-fold objective – expose students to the dynamics of functioning on an international platform and complement classroom learning with a global business perspective.

Twenty-five students from MBA and Executive MBA of VGSOM participated in this collaborative programme who were selected based on their prior work experience in diverse sectors.

Eminent academicians from Singapore Management University and industry leaders offered experiential learning experience at the first edition of the programme. Another remarkable aspect of this programme was the live industry projects undertaken by the students under the aegis of corporate giants like DBS Bank, Citibank, GSK and niche players like Lendingkart and BondEValue.

Prof. Prabina Rajib, Dean, Vinod Gupta School of Management, IIT Kharagpur, on the success of the programme remarked, “We are very proud to include the International Immersion Programme in our curriculum. Its right emphasis on theoretical and practical learning coupled with the unique international exposure it offers the participant makes it a priceless experience. We plan on increasing the number of participants in the years to come to extend this opportunity to all our students, making this a yearly event. We are confident that this collaboration between two institutes of global repute will promote excellence in managerial education globally.”

Students were allowed to showcase their business acumen through a live simulation exercise on Portfolio Management which was both engaging and challenging. The field trip included a visit to the Singapore Stock Exchange with a focus on the global economy and technological adaptation in an exchange. Students further got the opportunity to participate in a panel discussion with Asia’s leading business leaders which gave exposure to the students to understand the Indian business scenario from a global perspective and consider international career opportunities.

Students further worked on challenging business problems requiring leading-edge technological solutions based on a strong understanding of fundamental business concepts. These projects which form a part of the MBA curriculum are currently afoot with mentors from both institutes and respective companies being assigned to guide the students.

“This practical approach based on real-life projects is the singular feature that makes this international immersion programme unique among other such programmes by B-schools in the country,” said one of the participants.

Recounting his SMU-IITKGP I2XL experience, Swastik Paul, a final year MBA student, says, “It was the best part of my MBA journey and gave me an edge over my peers. The interactions with industry experts were extremely insightful which provided me with invaluable professional experience. I highly recommend this programme to all who would like to explore and shape their careers on a global stage.”

IIT KGP signs MoU with ZHAW

IIT Kharagpur and the School of Applied Psychology of the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), one of the leading universities of applied sciences in Europe, signed an MoU on February 7, 2019, to explore opportunities for academic exchange and collaboration in research efforts.

The academic exchange between the two institutions will not only encompass the exchange of faculty members, researchers and students but also lead to the organization of joint research projects, workshops, conferences and symposia.

The two institutions will also work towards the offering of joint or dual programs or projects that allow for joint supervision and credit transfer facilities.
The School of Applied Psychology, established in 19232, is the leading centre of expertise for the teaching and practice of scientifically-based applied psychology in Switzerland. It operates with 8 schools and has close to 13,000 students enrolled in 46 programs. Though research is one of the main pillars of the institution, it also accords emphasis on social and practical impact and offers a wide range of consulting services.

Dr. Michael Zirkler, head of the section, organization development and consulting, School of Applied Psychology, “We are deeply happy with the discussions and the initiatives that are being planned.”

Prof. Prasanta K. Das, Dean, PG Studies and Research, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, said, “We look forward to building on the relationship whose foundations have just been laid and hope to strengthen it further through intellectual exchanges between faculty members and students of the two institutions.”

IIT KGP Partners with AOTS Japan

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IIT Kharagpur and Japan’s The Association for Overseas Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Partnerships (AOTS) have signed an MoU on January 21, 2019, to explore opportunities for an Indo-Japanese Research Centre at IIT Kharagpur to showcase research and technology developments in thematic areas.

The two organizations shall focus on state of the art joint certification courses in the domains of technology and management to be co-taught by faculty/experts in both countries including visits to the host institutions. This partnership will have a strong focus on the professional development of students at the Institute as well as industry professionals. Courses will also be offered to impart training to the Japanese students and professionals in India. This would involve domain experts from IIT Kharagpur and industry.

“Japan is a global leader in domains such as Urban Science & Infrastructure, Advanced Manufacturing/Industry 4.0, Quality with focus on manufacturing, High-Speed Railways, Semiconductors & Electronic Manufacturing automotive while India has emerged as the domain expert in Information Technology, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence and Start-up culture. The Centre will facilitate collaborative projects and training modules in these areas in accordance to work cultures of India and Japan which have their unique styles of management and leadership,” said Prof. P P Chakrabarti, Director IIT Kharagpur.

Prof. Chakrabarti signed the MoU virtually in the presence of his counterpart Shinya Kuwayama, President, AOTS through video conferencing. The delegation from AOTS, which visited the Kolkata Extension Centre of IIT Kharagpur consisted of Hisashi Kanda, General Manager of AOTS, New Delhi office and Supriya Chandra, the program coordinator/liaison, while Mr. Joji Tateishi, Senior Managing Director, Mr. Takeshi Ichikawa, Director and Mr. Yasumi Suzuki, General Manager, AOTS Japan participated through video conferencing.

“Maintenance and health monitoring of infrastructural facilities for transportation, building etc, based on new technological developments are of paramount importance. Japan’s expertise in this area along with sensor technologies will be extremely beneficial in offering short courses jointly by IIT Kharagpur and Japanese organizations,” said Prof. S K Bhattacharyya, Deputy Director of IIT Kharagpur who was present on the occasion along with Prof. Anandaroop Bhattacharya, Associate Dean, International Relations.

Joint academic and business activities will be undertaken including events to promote education, internships and employment for students. “With the growing trend of students getting placed in Japanese companies or viewing Japanese universities for higher studies, IIT Kharagpur is keen to start courses on the Japanese language in its campus with the help of AOTS for the benefit of the students of IIT Kharagpur,” opined Anandaroop Bhattacharya. It is to be noted that Japanese companies were the highest foreign recruiters at IIT KGP placements for the past two years.

The activities of the Indo-Japanese Research Centre spearheaded by IIT Kharagpur will be open to other engineering Institutions for participation including other IITs and NITs.