Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has joined hands with the Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore to offer joint Ph.D. program. Infosys co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan, a Distinguished Alumnus of IIT Madras, has agreed to sponsor five IIT Madras students annually for travel to and stay at NTU (upto 18 months) as part of this program. The IIT Madras alumni community in Singapore, which is strong and active in the area, will provide various forms of support to the Institute, and to India, said a statement from the Chennai-based engineering and technology institute.
Prof Bhaskar Ramamurthi, Director, IIT Madras, exchanged the MoU for Joint Doctoral Program with Nanyang Technological University on June 1, 2018 in the presence of the Prime Minister of India. The President of NTU, Prof Subra Suresh, is a Distinguished Alumnus of IIT Madras. Both NTU and IIT Madras ware committed to making this a two-way relationship.
Speaking about the importance of this JDP Program, Mr Gopalakrishnan said, "I strongly believe in international collaboration in research so that diverse perspectives can be brought to solve global challenges. NTU and IIT Madras are research leaders in many complimentary areas and I am sure that this collaboration will help advance research in both institutes."
The MoU with not only strengthen IIT Madras' collaborations with NTU, Singapore but will also enable exchange of equal number of scholars from IIT Madras to NTU. An Alumni Meeting held on 2nd June 2018 also served to strengthen the bond between alumni and their alma mater.
Speaking about the benefits of this JDP, Prof R Nagarajan, Alumni Community Chair Professor, IIT Madras, said, "NTU is sending a delegation of faculty for a Research Collaboration Workshop at IIT Madras. A reciprocal Workshop is planned at NTU in early 2019. Both institutions will attempt to get 5 Ph.D. candidates enrolled in the joint program during 2019. IIT Madras alumni in Singapore will continue to meet regularly, and look for ways to give back to IIT Madras and to India."
Further, Prof Nagarajan added, "A special thanks to our Distinguished Alumnus and President of NTU, Dr. Subra Suresh, whose support was instrumental in paving the way forward."
Speaking about the collaboration, Prof B.V.R. Chowdari, Senior Executive Director, President's Office, School of Materials Science and Engineering, NTU, said, "The very fact that NTU has set up an office named 'NTU India Connect' signifies the strong intent of NTU to collaborate with Indian Institutes of higher learning."
Further, Prof Chowdari added, "IIT Madras is one of the first few Institutes NTU has chosen in view of the already existing strong relations, which will now be strengthened. We would like to thank Mr. Kris Gopalakrishnan for his contribution, which worked as a catalyst to bring this JDP into reality."
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