The Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT Guwahati) has significantly expanded its international collaboration by signing Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with several prestigious educational institutions worldwide. On the 3rd of March 2024, IIT Guwahati marked a milestone in its commitment to fostering global academic exchange by entering into formal agreements with Dalhousie University, Canada, and Gifu University, Japan. These agreements, set for an initial period of five years with the possibility of further extension, aim to enrich the educational and research landscape at IIT Guwahati.
During the signing event, Prof. Rajeev Ahuja, Officiating Director of IIT Guwahati, expressed enthusiasm about the new partnerships. He highlighted the institute’s dedication to enhancing its students’ academic and personal development through these collaborations. “IIT Guwahati is committed to supporting students’ academic and personal growth through these programs,” he said, emphasising the importance of cross-cultural opportunities in enriching students’ educational experiences.
One of the standout initiatives from these collaborations is establishing a Joint Doctoral Program with Dalhousie University. This program aims to create dynamic research partnerships and exchange opportunities for students and academic staff, fostering a vibrant academic environment conducive to innovation and excellence. The joint supervision of PhD candidates is expected to offer varied perspectives and deepen the research quality.
In partnership with Gifu University, IIT Guwahati has launched an ‘International Joint PhD Program’ designed to span three years. This program involves collaborative course development, providing students with a comprehensive educational experience. Additionally, the institutions have agreed on a 2-year ‘International Masters Joint Degree Program in Food Science and Technology’ aimed at developing skilled professionals through shared coursework and research in this critical field.
Furthermore, the ‘Glocal Expert Program’, an international joint-certificate initiative under the Inter-University Exchange Project (IUEP), has been established in collaboration with Gifu University. This program encourages cross-cultural learning and global competency development among students.
The collaborations were formalised during the ‘Japan-NER Bioeconomic Technology Cooperation Symposium 2024’ (JNBTCS-2024), hosted by IIT Guwahati from March 3rd to 5th, 2024. The symposium sought to explore technical advancements to boost bio-economic development in Japan and the North-Eastern Region (NER) of India. The event featured discussions on food supply chains, sustainable technology, disaster management, and biomass utilisation, bringing together eminent researchers, industry leaders, and entrepreneurs from India and Japan.
Prof. Kazuhiro Yoshida, President of Gifu University, was formally recognised during the event and awarded the Honorary Professor at IIT Guwahati for his significant contributions to academic collaboration. This series of partnerships and the successful hosting of the JNBTCS-2024 underline IIT Guwahati’s ongoing commitment to advancing international educational exchanges and research collaborations, setting a new benchmark for global academic partnerships.
