DU to offer 'first' dual degree programme

Updated on: Monday, October 12, 2009

Delhi University will soon be collaborating with France to offer a dual-degree programme in nuclear science. The department of physics and astrophysics, DU, which launched an MTech in nuclear science and technology last year, will be tying up with seven French institutions to offer the dual-degree.

“Students enrolled for DU’s three-year MTech programme would be spending third and fourth semester in Paris and they would be awarded a Master’s in nuclear energy. Once they come back from Paris and spend fourth and fifth semester in DU, they would get an MTech degree,” informed RK Shivpuri, head, department of physics and astrophysics. “This is the first time that the university is tying up with another higher education institution for a dual degree,” he added.

The Master’s programme in France would be offered by a group of seven different institutions: University of Paris, Paris Tech (consortium of 12 French institutes), Ecole Centrale, Supelec and INSTN. “It is an industry-driven programme. It would be offered in collaboration with EDF and Areva — organisations working in the field of civil nuclear energy,” said Sylvain Ferrari, international development co-ordinator, Ecole Polytechnique, which is a part of Paris Tech.

Elaborating on the reasons behind offering a dual-degree programme with DU, he said, “The MTech curriculum at DU comprises topics taught at the first year of the Master’s programme in nuclear science in France. Hence, students coming to France would be able to specialise in one of the five areas offered in the second year of the course — nuclear engineering, operations, nuclear plant design, waste management and fuel cycle,” added Ferrari.

Students would also get a chance to intern with EDF and Areva. “France gets 75% of the electricity generated from nuclear energy. These two organisations play a major role in generating civil nuclear energy. Students interning with these organisations would get a chance to work at their nuclear reactor sights,” said Ferrari.

DU had tied up with France last year to send MTech students to Paris. Twelve students who were enrolled in the first batch of the MTech programme are in France. However, the arrangement to offer a dual degree is from this year.

Timesofindia

DU to offer 'first' dual degree programme

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