The Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) and the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (IISc) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) recently to establish a distinctive partnership aimed at strengthening academic exchange, interdisciplinary research, and student development between the two premier institutions.
Reflecting on the collaboration, Prof Rajat Moona, Director, IITGN, said, “As an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Science, this collaboration holds a special personal significance for me, as it represents an important institutional step forward for both IIT Gandhinagar and IISc. IITGN has always been a student-first institute – in our actions, our culture, and our philosophy – and this partnership reflects yet another way in which we prioritise our students’ growth, welfare, and long-term success.” He further added, “By enabling our high-performing third-year undergraduates to transition seamlessly into IISc’s prestigious MTech and research programmes, we are opening new academic and research avenues for our students, while also creating new pathways for IISc to attract exceptional young minds. I believe this collaboration will meaningfully expand opportunities on both sides and strengthen the academic bridge between two institutions that have shaped my own journey in profound ways.”
Under the MoU, students and researchers from both institutions will have opportunities to pursue joint research projects in areas of shared interest, co-organise symposia and workshops, and access advanced infrastructure and laboratory facilities across both campuses. The partnership also supports student exchange from IITGN to IISc for academic and research engagements.
A major highlight of the collaboration is a new academic pathway that allows IITGN BTech students, upon completing their third year, to join Master’sprogrammes at IISc through a competitive selection process. Students who fulfil all academic requirements will receive their BTech degree from IITGN and their MTech degree from IISc.
This pioneering academic framework aims to combine the strengths of the two institutes, offering students enhanced learning opportunities and broader exposure to cutting-edge research. IISc has indicated its intention to establish similar collaborations with additional IITs in the coming years.
“We are excited to embark on this innovative partnership with IIT Gandhinagar, which will enable BTech students to seamlessly transition to MTech and PhD programmes after their third year of undergraduate studies. IISc offers more than two dozen specialisations in MTech programmes, and a majority of our research and course programmes are open for direct admission to graduates from Centrally Funded Technical Institutions (CFTIs),” says Prof G Rangarajan, Director, IISc.
“We hope to enter into similar agreements with many more IITs in the near future so that students can fast-track their academic degrees, as envisaged in NEP 2020”, he said.