IIT Madras, Australia’s Curtin University ink joint doctoral program pact

Mumbai: Indian Institute of Technology Madras on Thursday signed an agreement with the Curtin University in Perth for a joint doctoral programme.

Brett Kirk, associate deputy vice chancellor research in presence of pro-vice chancellor of faculty of science and engineering and a number of senior faculty members of Curtin University, and Prof Bhaskar Ramamurthi, director, IIT Madras, signed the agreement on the IIT Madras campus.

"IIT Madras has embarked on a systematic program of research collaboration with leading Universities around the world. We envision a four-stage process, starting with faculty interactions, leading to research scholar exchanges and joint supervision of PhDs, culminating over time in joint doctorate programs," R. Nagarajan, professor and dean of international and alumni relations at IIT Madras, said , in a press release.

Several faculty members at both institutions, in different disciplines in particular chemical and petroleum engineering and civil, have expressed interest in participating in the program, he added.

"Curtin University accepts with great enthusiasm the joint doctoral degree program development with IIT Madras," said Syed Islam, professor and dean international for the faculty of science and engineering.

Curtin University already has a MoU and a student exchange agreement with IIT Madras in ocean engineering. In 2015, Curtin University will be sending a group of engineering students for a semester funded by the New Colombo Plan.

"The JDP agreement is aligned with Curtin's vision for growth in international higher degree research students, joint publication with international authors, and mechanisms for strong interaction between IIT Madras and Curtin academic scholars and professors," he said.

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