IIT-Guwahati collaborates with international universities in Canada and Japan as part of student exchange programs

IIT-Guwahati, in a bid to enhance student’s academic and personal growth, has signed four Memorandum of Understanding with international universities in Japan and Canada.

While one agreement has been made with Dalhousie University, Canada, another three has been signed with Gifu University in Japan.

According to a release by Indian Institute of Guwahati (IIT-G) on Tuesday, agreements have been done for a period of five years which is subject to extension on mutual understanding.

These partnerships were signed during a three-day event, 'Japan-NER Bioeconomic Technology Cooperation Symposium 2024' (JNBTCS-2024), hosted by IIT Guwahati, which ended on Tuesday.

Speaking at an event, Professor Rajeev Ahuja, officiating director, IIT Guwahati, said, “IIT Guwahati is committed to supporting students' academic and personal growth through these programs. In essence, the collaborations aim to provide students with diverse learning experiences and opportunities for growth and fostering a holistic educational environment.”

“The primary goal is for enriching the educational experience of students and noted that such cross-cultural opportunities would enable them to achieve that,” he said.

A joint doctoral program will be established under the MoU with Dalhousie University, signed by Professor Ahuja and Professor P Balakrishnan.

The program promises to offer diverse perspectives and expertise, enriching the educational journey and enhancing the quality of research outcomes.

By facilitating exchange programs for students and academic staff, fostering joint research activities, and promoting the sharing of research materials, this partnership aims to cultivate a rich academic environment conducive to ground breaking discoveries and academic excellence, the statement said.

Meanwhile, an 'International Joint PhD Program' will be established with Gifu University, spanning a standard duration of three years.

The program intends to offer scholars a comprehensive educational experience as they will receive collective guidance and mentorship from faculty members at both the home and partner institutions. 

Research progress will be evaluated by a multidisciplinary team of experts from both universities, ensuring rigorous academic standards and fostering innovative research outcomes.

In the second agreement, there will be a two-year 'International Masters Joint Degree Programs in Food Science and Technology' between the two institutes.

The program emphasizes data sharing across institutions, aiming to cultivate highly skilled professionals in food science and related fields. 

This initiative is poised to address challenges in building a sustainable society by optimizing resource utilization and benefiting both regions.

In the third collaboration with Gifu University, a “Global Expert Program” will be established under the Inter-University Exchange Project (IUEP).

This program enables students to obtain certification from both universities as exchange students, fostering cross-cultural learning and enhancing global competencies.

Professor Kazuhiro Yoshida, president of GIFU University, formally endorsed the three MoUs on behalf of his varsity. In recognition of his contributions to academic collaboration, Professor Yoshida was extended the position of Honorary Professor at IIT Guwahati.