How higher education institutions can engage with the industry

The significance of higher education institutions (HEIS) has never been more pronounced than in the era of digital transformation and rapid technological advancement, amid ever-shifting industry landscapes. Higher education institutions play a pivotal role in shaping tomorrow's innovators and at the forefront of this revolution is the Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi (IIIT-Delhi). Excerpts from an interview with Dr. Ranjan Bose, Director.

- Minu Sirsalewala

What are the ways in which higher education institutes can engage with industry? How does IIIT Delhi collaborate with industries to enhance student skill development?

Interfacing with industry is not only necessary but essential. IIIT-D is industry-facing, globally-connected, and socially relevant, and this is reflected in our teaching and learning processes. The following are some ways to engage fruitfully with industry and specific examples of how IIIT-D is doing it.

Research Partnerships with Industry:

Collaborating on research projects enables faculty members and industry partners to address complex challenges, develop innovative solutions, and advance knowledge in specific areas. Several faculty members of IIIT-D have collaborative projects with industry, and industry projects support multiple Ph.D. students. Last year, IIIT-D signed over 10 new MoUs with industry partners.

Joint Project Guidance: Guiding joint projects with industry partners allows students to gain specialized skills and knowledge tailored to industry needs. At IIIT-D, joint project guidance with industry experts at the UG and PG levels is strongly encouraged. An example of this is the M.Tech. scholarships sponsored by Vehant Technologies, which supports the students and exposes them to first-hand industry experience.

Consulting Services: Providing consulting services to industry partners allows higher education institutes to leverage their expertise and resources to address specific challenges faced by industry. Faculty members at IIIT-D routinely consult for industry, improving their operations and solving complex problems.