IIT (BHU)-Varanasi Signs MoU with Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), USA

Varanasi: Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi, India signed a MoU with Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), USA for joint Academic and Research Activities on 25th July 2022. The said MoU was signed by Dr. Michael Rao, President of VCU and VCU Health System and Prof. Pramod Kumar Jain, Director, IIT (BHU), Varanasi.

A delegation from VCU, USA visited IIT (BHU), Varanasi for signing the MoU which included the key officials of VCU Dr. Sriram Rao, Vice President for Research and Innovation, Dr. Jill Blondin, Executive Director, Global Education Office, VCU and Ms. Marci Fradkin, Director of Global Partnerships, Global Education Office, VCU. Prof. Pramod Kumar Jain, Director, IIT (BHU), Prof. Rajeev Srivastava, Dean (Resource and Alumni), Prof. S.B. Dwivedi, Dean (Academic Affairs), Prof. Vikash Kumar Dubey, Dean (Research and Development), Head of the Departments and faculty members of identified research areas were present during the MoU Signing ceremony on behalf of IIT (BHU), Varanasi.

The IIT (BHU), Varanasi and VCU, USA join in the agreement on potential collaboration in the areas between the two institutions which include exchange of faculty members for research, consulting and lecturing, exchange of students (UG/PG and Ph.D.) for study and research, exchange of educational materials and academic publications, and joint research publications.

The potential research areas of collaboration between the faculty members of IIT (BHU) and VCU include: Electric Vehicle and Research, Pharmaceutical/Biochemical Engineering, AI, Vision and Cyber Security, Materials Science and Engineering, and any other research area upon mutual consent

Joint research activities cover scholarly research in several forms and more particularly PhD research which will be considered in the forms of joint PhD research by joint-supervision; Joint Collaborative research by faculty of both institutions; Joint PhD degree; joint and dual undergraduate/post graduate degree formulation and discussion.

Under the faculty exchange program each institution may accept members of faculty members of the other institution to join in research and to participate in discussions and deliver lectures. Student exchange will occur on a one-for-one basis, in each of the following categories: undergraduate, graduate, and PhD. The duration of stay will be as per norm and regulation of each institution but has to be approved by host institution in advance not exceeding one year at a time. Both IIT (BHU) and VCU will assign Exchange Students accepted by them the status of a “non-degree Student”. The student exchange program shall be administered through the Office of the Dean (Academic Affairs) at IIT (BHU) and the Global Education Office at VCU.

Dr. Michael Rao, President of VCU and his colleagues from VCU expressed their happiness over the signing of the MoU with IIT (BHU) and informed that VCU will extend all kinds of support to the faculty members and students of IIT (BHU) to implement the scheme. Dr. Sriram Rao, Vice President for Research and Innovation at VCU discussed the areas of research collaboration with the faculty members of the institute. Dr. Jill Blondin, Executive Director, Global Education Office, VCU and Ms. Marci Fradkin, Director of Global Partnerships, Global Education Office, VCU further elaborated on the MoU and its implementation.

Prof. Pramod Kumar Jain, Director, IIT (BHU) expressed his gratitude to the VCU delegation for visiting the Institute. He further added that this MoU between IIT (BHU) and VCU is unique in nature which will facilitate the students and faculty members of both the institutions to come closer and explore the academic and research activities jointly in the identified research areas.

All the Deans, Head of the Departments and faculty members from IIT (BHU), Varanasi discussed about the research areas of collaboration and possible contribution in the identified areas of the research.

Prof. Rajeev Srivastava, Dean (Resource and Alumni Affairs), IIT (BHU), Varanasi coordinated the event and expressed his vote of thanks on behalf of IIT (BHU), Varanasi.Prof. Rajeev Srivastava, Dean (Resource and Alumni Affairs), IIT (BHU), Varanasi coordinated the event and expressed his vote of thanks on behalf of IIT (BHU), Varanasi.