I2IT MOU with US varsity for engg course

Updated on: Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Pune: City-based International Institute of Information Technology (I2IT) and the Lawrence Technological University (LTU), Michigan, US, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the launch of a two-year masters degree programme in automobile engineering from July 2010.

Dean of I2IT Aruna Katara told TOI on Monday, 'The course is to be run on a joint degree certification basis with the infotech (IT) component to be taught at I2ITs Hinjewadi campus for nine months and the automotive component at the LTU campus in US for the reamining 11 months. They (LTU) have some of the best automotive research and lab facilities.'

For academic institutions in the city, the signing of the MoU provides the first tangible outcome of growing Indo-US collaborative effort in the field of higher learning since the visit of Human Resource Development (HRD) minister Kapil Sibal to the US in October.

A delegation of representatives from leading state-run and deemed universities as well as private instituitons of higher learning in India had accompanied Sibal. The team included I2IT chief mentor Vijay Bhatkar and Katara besides Symbiosis International Universitys representative, Vidya Yeravdekar.

The Southfield, Michiganbased LTU, established in 1932, ranks among leading private tech varsities in the US with a student base of 4,500-plus and is known for its engineering degree and masters programmes among others.

The MoU was signed by LTU president Lewis N Walker and I2ITs Katara during a ceremony at Washington DC on November 23 during Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs trip to the US. Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Indian Ambassador to US Meera Shankar besides Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industries president Harsh Pati Singhania and secretary general Amit Mitra were present.
Katara said, The proposed masters programme has already secured all requisite clearances at the US end including the board of accreditations approval. At the Indian end, we have formally moved papers with the HRD ministry and there won't be much problem securing the clearance in the overall context.

According to Katara, the programme aims at starting with a student intake of 15 to 20 engineering degree (BE) holders especially those from the mechanical branch.The GRE and Toefel qualifications will be must for the US component of the two-year programme, she said

I2IT MOU with US varsity for engg course

More Education news