Chennai: Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani and the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) have entered into a five-year partnership to strengthen academic and research collaboration between the two premier institutions.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed at the IIT Madras campus by V Ramgopal Rao, Group Vice Chancellor, BITS Pilani, and V Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras.

The agreement provides a framework for collaboration in areas of mutual academic and research interest. It will facilitate the exchange of students and faculty, along with the sharing of academic and scholarly information, materials and publications.

A key feature of the partnership is a student exchange programme, under which students from both institutions will have opportunities to undertake academic coursework, research activities and project work at the partner institution.

The collaboration will also support the joint organisation of seminars, workshops and other academic events, creating opportunities for faculty and researchers from both institutions to engage and share knowledge.

“BITS Pilani has always believed that students and faculty should have access to the best academic ecosystems, wherever they are. This collaboration with IIT Madras will create new opportunities for student mobility, joint research and faculty engagement, and will strengthen the larger culture of collaboration among India’s leading institutions,” said V Ramgopal Rao.

IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti said he was “extremely happy” to sign the MoU with BITS Pilani and expressed confidence in working together across a wide range of areas, including critical and emerging technologies and wellness initiatives, while learning from each institution’s best practices.