International Relations IIT Bombay

Internationalization of IITs Workshop 30th – 31st October 2014 Shyamala Iyer, Senior Executive Officer

International Relations IIT Bombay

A brief overview of the IR office:

Started as a cell in 2003, under PIC- Alumni and International Relations,

Later designated as Dean IR office

Office Structure:

Dean IR,

Officer

Junior Assistant,

Attendant,

Supported by:

A Faculty Advisor for International Students

IsecIR (Institute Secretary for International Relations),

International Relations Advisory Committee.

International Relations IIT Bombay

In the early phase, focus was on establishing contacts with international universities and sharing information about IITB with them,

Now the focus has expanded to actively pursue:

Research collaborations through joint research workshops,

Faculty exchanges,

Students exchanges, and

Exploring and adopting newer models of collaboration.

International Relations IIT Bombay

Activities of IR office at IIT Bombay:

First point of contact for international universities and organizations,

Coordinating visits of international delegations,

MoUs (templates for generic MoU, student exchange template, etc),

Coordination of student exchange programs,

Organizing orientation sessions for international students, cultural events and excursions, etc.

International Relations IIT Bombay

For Exchange/Visiting students:

Pre-admission correspondence,

Processing applications,

Offer letter and visa assistance,

Arrival coordination,

Hostel accommodation and settling in,

Orientation, & FRRO registration

Grade card dispatch

International Relations IIT Bombay

International Relations IIT Bombay

Full Program Students:

Coordination along with Academic Office.

Our office helps with -

Arrival Assistance,

Hostel accommodation,

FRRO registration,

Assistance for extensions of visa,

Communications with ministry, if needed

Any other special requirements such as degree authentication from Mantralaya, Mumbai.

International Relations IIT Bombay

Organizing international joint workshops:

For information exchanges

(eg. EU Delegation workshop, Erasmus workshop, Aalto workshop),

Joint, theme-based research workshops in coordination with departments

(eg. With Edinburgh (on Climate Change), NUS University (Energy Workshop), etc),

International Relations IIT Bombay

International Relations IIT Bombay

Administration of Language classes

5 languages:

- French, (with French embassy)

- German, (with DAAD)

- Japanese, (with a company sponsor),

- Chinese, (with BJTU university),

- Italian, (with Pavia University).

International Relations IIT Bombay

International Relations IIT Bombay

Other activities of IR office

University rankings, high-level delegation visits, etc.,

Responding to parliamentary questions, RTI queries,

Reporting MoUs to BOG and providing inputs for Director's Foundation day speech, Annual reports, MHRD reports and any other reports as requested by Director's office.

Recently, we have also been tasked with forming a network with Indian Institutions. (MoU templates, negotiations, coordinating meetings, etc. Eg. MoUs have been signed with TIFR, IISc, IITD&IITR, etc.)

International Relations IIT Bombay

Some things that have worked

Regular Information sessions: - About exchange programs, - About scholarships available (DAAD sandwich program, Charpak, etc)

Dedicated website and keeping it updated,

Mails on faculty and student e-notices,

Pursuing funding, (eg Alumni, corporates, agencies like DAAD, CampusFrance, etc.),

Organizing joint workshops.

International Relations IIT Bombay

Please visit

www.ir.iitb.ac.in

Thank you!