Srinagar, Mar 23: National Institute of Technology (NIT), Srinagar has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research (NITTTR), Chennai on March 21.
This MoU is aimed to promote collaboration in areas including faculty exchange, joint research projects, and sharing of academic resources and also seeks to leverage the strengths of both institutions to enhance the quality of technical education and research outcomes.
The MoU was signed by Director NIT Srinagar, Prof. A. Ravinder Nath, and Director NITTTR Chennai, Prof. Dr. Usha Natesan.
Registrar NIT Srinagar, Prof. Atikur Rahman, Dean Research & Consultancy Prof. Roohi Naaz Mir, Prof. G A Harmain, among other faculty members of both institutions were present on the occasion.
In his address, Director NIT, Prof. Ravinder Nath, highlighted the trans-formative potential of this collaborative venture, emphasizing its role in unlocking opportunities for joint research initiatives.
“The primary focus of this collaboration is to train the faculty members of NIT Srinagar seamlessly in the areas of Pedagogy, Curriculum Development, Question Paper Setting, Continuous Assessment Practices, Evaluation Methodology, Academic Audit, Accreditation, etc, Training, academic and research collaboration in the areas of mutual interest,” he said.
Prof. Ravinder Nath said that this collaboration will in due course lead to collaborative research projects, Internships, offering pedagogy courses, joint supervision of Masters Students, joint workshops and seminars, webinars, etc.
He also extended his gratitude to the Director NITTTR Chennai team led by Prof. Dr. Usha Natesan for their invaluable contributions to the signing of the MoU.
On the occasion, Director NITTTR Chennai Prof. Natesan stated that it is a historic collaboration as both institutions formally signed a vital collaboration aimed at advancing research, faculty exchange, training to staff members, academic audit etc.
She said that NIT Srinagar will depute faculty members for regular short-term programmes of NITTTR, Chennai. Tailor-made training programmes for the faculty members of NIT Srinagar shall also be conducted by NITTTR Chennai. The training programmes shall be conducted as per the existing norms and guidelines of NITTTR Chennai, Prof. Natensan said.
As per MoU document, this MoU will collaborate with industries as a tripartite model of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in the areas of Skill Up gradation, working with industries’ Critical/ Challenging problems to provide effective solutions to the industries through Consultancy/Project works, and utilize the service of industries’ Subject Matter Experts on mutual benefits.
“Exchange of students and faculty; exchange of academic information, scholarly information, materials, and publications.”
As per MoU, both the Institutes will collaborate and create training modules, courses and tracks for enhancing the skill sets of the faculty in facilitating the students in various career pathways viz. Employ ability, Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Research.
It said that both the Institutes may devise learning tracks (offline / online / blended) for the faculty with a set of credit courses that may be stored in Academic Credit Bank (with prior approval from the competent authority) and deliver the same to the faculty across the country in Online / Offline / Blended mode. In such cases the certificates will be issued jointly by NIT Srinagar and NITTTR.
The commercials involved with respect to joint certification programs will be shared between NITTTR and NIT Srinagar on a separate mutual agreement. Faculty members from both Institutions will collaborate in the supervision of exchange students and in joint research in disciplines of mutual interest,” it said.
This MoU said that training and research proposals for collaborative research work under this Memorandum will be submitted with the prior approval of the Head of each institution.
“Each institution will nominate one of its members as its representative in charge of the collaborative programme. Individual programmes of work under this Memorandum will be jointly planned and conducted by the nominees of both parties,” it said.
The MoU said that progress of work of any individual collaborative work will be reviewed and approved by designated authorities of both parties.
“If required, every collaboration (like Joint Consultancy, Research projects etc.,) will have its own agreement / contract which address issues such as IPR, funding pattern, usage policies of research facilities, disclosure of information etc.”
The MoU further reads that NIT Srinagar shall allow NITTTR Chennai to conduct Academic audit of their programmes in accordance with NITTTR guidelines prevailing from time to time.
“NIT Srinagar shall allow NITTTR Chennai to conduct pedagogical experimental studies pertaining to Teaching, Learning and Assessment Models with the students of NIT Srinagar.”
The MOU further reads that PG students and Research Scholars of NIT Srinagar will be permitted to take up SWAYAM and other pedagogy related courses offered (offline / Online) by NITTTR Chennai.
“For the FDPs organized, sponsored by NIT Srinagar, NITTTR faculty members may be involved in handling pedagogy related areas.”
The MoU further said that NITTTR faculty members may be involved in Development of Curriculum, preparation of Instructional Materials, vetting of Question papers and adjudicating PG and Doctorate Theses.
“Faculty Members of both the Institutes may jointly float online courses and video lectures on platforms like Swayam, Edx, etc.”
The MoU said that pursuant to the faculty exchange, NITTTR Chennai and NIT Srinagar will exchange faculty for carrying out research related to Engineering and Engineering Education.
“The norms and guidelines for the same will be framed separately upon mutual concurrence. It is desired by both parties that there will be flow of faculty in both directions,” it said.
