National, May 20, 2025– BITS Pilani, a renowned institution known for its commitment to innovation, has signed an MoU with The University of Manchester, a global leader in research and teaching excellence, driven by innovation and social responsibility. The agreement was signed at BITS Pilani’s Hyderabad campus during a visit by a University of Manchester team led by Professor Stephen Flint, and it aims to promote t academic and research efforts.
This partnership concentrates on the t development of quality academic degree programs, undertakes t research, and enables the movement of students and faculty. In addition, it provides avenues for collaboration with industry, teaching, online education, and co-supervision of doctoral studies, and facilitates dual or t degrees regulated by Indian authorities (UGC and AICTE).
Speaking on the announcement, Professor Stephen Flint, Associate Vice President International, University of Manchester, said, “The University of Manchester is delighted to enter into this agreement with India’s premier private institution to co-create a portfolio of high-quality programmes across science and engineering,” said Professor Stephen Flint. “This important new development underscores our long-term commitment to partnering with top institutions in India.”
Prof Ramgopal Rao, Vice Chancellor, BITS Pilani, said, “This MoU marks a significant milestone for BITS Pilani as we strengthen our commitment to providing world-class education and research opportunities. By partnering with a globally renowned institution like The University of Manchester, we are confident that we can create transformative learning experiences for our students and contribute to cutting-edge research that addresses pressing global challenges.”
The MoU creates a platform for reciprocal academic interaction, research collaboration, and global exposure for students. BITS Pilani and the University of Manchester, along with the Jawaharlal Nehru Center for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bengaluru as a partner, will also cooperate to obtain worldwide research funding and co-host seminars, lectures, and workshops.
This partnership aligns with BITS Pilani’s strategic emphasis on internationalization and India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, paving the way for globally benchmarked education and research opportunities for students worldwide.
The University of Manchester delegation was led by Professor Stephen Flint, Associate Vice President International, alongwith Prof. Aravind Vijayaraghavan, Professor of Nanomaterials, Department of Materials and Head of Internationalization, Faculty of Science & Engineering, Prof. Radha Boya, Professor of Nanoscience, and other senior leaders. The visit featured strategic meetings with BITS Pilani’s Vice Chancellor Professor Ramgopal Rao, Hyderabad Campus Director Professor Soumyo Mukherjee, and other key academic leadership, culminating in the MoU g ceremony.