IIT Delhi and AcSIR sign MoU to strengthen research and academic collaboration

The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) and the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen academic and research collaboration between the two institutions.

The agreement establishes a framework for joint research, co-supervision of postgraduate research students and the exchange of students, research scholars and faculty members between IIT Delhi and research institutes associated with AcSIR.

The collaboration is intended to bring together the academic and research strengths of IIT Delhi with the wider network of research institutes associated with AcSIR. The institutions said the partnership will create opportunities for students and faculty to work across institutional boundaries and engage with different research facilities and areas of expertise.

Joint supervision for postgraduate students

A key component of the MoU is joint supervision of PhD, M.Tech and MS(R) students.

Students enrolled under the collaborative framework will have at least one supervisor from IIT Delhi and one from an AcSIR-associated research institute. The arrangement will allow postgraduate researchers to work with faculty and researchers from both institutional networks as part of their academic and research programmes.

The MoU also provides for academic and research visits. Postgraduate students, research scholars and faculty members will be able to spend time at the partner institution for academic and research activities.

Coursework and research across institutions

The agreement also provides students of IIT Delhi and AcSIR with an opportunity to undertake coursework and research work at either institution.

According to the MoU framework, students will not need separate admission or have to pay tuition fees at the host institution for such coursework and research activities.

The arrangement is aimed at facilitating greater access to academic expertise and research facilities across the two institutional networks.

Faculty members from IIT Delhi and AcSIR-associated research institutes, including institutes linked to the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), will also be able to collaborate on areas of mutual interest and pursue joint research projects.

Focus on sustained research collaboration

IIT Delhi Director Prof. Rangan Banerjee said the partnership is intended to move beyond conventional student and faculty exchange and create sustained interaction among researchers.

According to Banerjee, bringing together the facilities and expertise of IIT Delhi and CSIR research laboratories could help students and faculty share ideas, work on challenging research problems and develop solutions to societal challenges.

AcSIR Director Prof. Manoj K. Dhar said the agreement would make the research infrastructure and expertise of IIT and AcSIR faculties accessible to a wider pool of students and researchers.

He also highlighted opportunities for students to work on research problems with industrial relevance and described the partnership as a step towards deeper academic and research linkages between AcSIR and IITs.

The MoU was signed by Prof. Rangan Banerjee, Director, IIT Delhi, and Prof. Manoj K. Dhar, Director, AcSIR.

The signing ceremony brought together senior officials from both institutions, including Directors, Deans, Associate Deans and Heads of Departments.

During the event, IIT Delhi and AcSIR also gave presentations on their respective academic and research activities.

The collaboration will provide a formal framework for students, researchers and faculty from the two networks to participate in joint research, academic exchanges and cross-institutional learning and research activities.