The Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) and Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology (SVNIT), Surat, have signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on January 31, 2026 to foster academic collaboration, student mobility, and research partnerships.
The MoU opens doors for a new BTech-MTech dual degree programme between IITGN and SVNIT. Under the new programme, BTech students from SVNIT can change their programme to BTech-MTech dual degree, with the BTech degree offered by SVNIT and the MTech degree offered by IITGN. SVNIT students can also join IITGN’s Summer Research Internship Programme (SRIP), while IITGN students can pursue research internships at SVNIT. Faculty collaboration is another key pillar. Faculty members from SVNIT can spend time at IITGN to undertake joint research and academic activities, fostering knowledge exchange and long-term collaboration in areas of mutual interest.
Commenting on the collaboration, Prof Rajat Moona, Director, IIT Gandhinagar, said, “This MoU with SVNIT Surat reflects IIT Gandhinagar’s commitment to building strong academic partnerships that go beyond conventional exchanges. By integrating student mobility, early-stage doctoral pathways, and faculty-led collaborative research, the partnership creates a robust framework for nurturing research-driven education and addressing complex, real-world challenges through interdisciplinary engagement.”
Highlighting the benefits of the MoU, Prof Anupam Shukla, Director, SVNIT Surat, remarked, “The collaboration with IIT Gandhinagar provides our students and faculty access to complementary expertise, advanced research environments, and new academic pathways. Through structured internship programmes, student exchange, and joint research initiatives, this partnership is expected to significantly enhance research capacity and academic outcomes at both institutions.”
The MoU further introduces pathways for advanced academic engagement, including a Start Early PhD Programme at IITGN for eligible SVNIT students.
This collaboration is expected to contribute to a stronger academic ecosystem by leveraging the complementary strengths of IIT Gandhinagar and SVNIT Surat.