The Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) has entered into a strategic partnership with the Ministry of Education, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, to launch a joint doctoral programme, Multidisciplinary International Quality Improvement Doctoral Degree Program (MIQMDDP). This initiative is designed to strengthen academic and research cooperation between India and Ethiopia.
Under this five-year collaboration, up to 15 Ethiopian PhD scholars will be selected annually to pursue research under joint supervision by faculty from both IITGN and Ethiopian institutions. The selected scholars will spend 12 to 18 months at IITGN, with institutional support as per IITGN norms, while the Ethiopian Ministry of Education will fund international travel.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was officially signed at IIT Gandhinagar by its Director, Professor Rajat Moona, in the presence of key institutional leaders, including Professor Surya Pratap Mehrotra (External Relations), Professor Nithin V George (Dean, General Administration), Professor Kabeer Jasuja (International Affairs), and Dr Somnath Mitra (CEO, Centre for Research Commercialization). Representing Ethiopia, Prof Krishnaraj Ramaswamy, Joint PhD Coordinator and Principal Scientific Advisor, Ministry of Innovation and Technology, also attended the ceremony.
Prof. Moona expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “We look forward to welcoming Ethiopian scholars and building impactful research partnerships between our countries.” Prof Mehrotra highlighted the broader potential of the MoU to foster deeper engagement with universities across Africa.
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Prof. Ramaswamy termed the agreement a landmark moment for India-Ethiopia academic ties, noting that the programme will offer scholars interdisciplinary mentorship, advanced research infrastructure, and global exposure.
This joint effort reflects a shared commitment to fostering research excellence, building academic bridges, and nurturing globally competent scholars.
