New Delhi: The Indian Institute of Technology Ropar has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Army Air Defence College, Gopalpur, for the award of a Master of Technology (MTech) degree in Defence Technology to officers of the Indian Army.
Under the agreement, officers undergoing the Long Air Defence Course at the Army Air Defence College will be awarded the MTech degree by IIT Ropar.
The agreement was signed by Prof. Rajeev Ahuja, Director, IIT Ropar, and Lt Gen Amit Rao, Commandant, Army Air Defence College, Gopalpur. Lt Gen Surinder Singh Mahal, Managing Director, IIT Ropar Defence Research and Innovation Foundation (DRIF), and Brigadier Rohit Das were also present.
The agreement was coordinated by Dr Sarang Gumfekar, Dean (PG and Research), IIT Ropar, and Virbhadra Singh Rawat, Director, DRIF.
As part of the agreement, Army officers enrolled in the Long Air Defence Course will receive formal academic accreditation through IIT Ropar’s MTech programme. Faculty members from the institute will be nominated as mentors to guide the officers through their dissertations and research projects.
The officers will also have access to IIT Ropar’s laboratories and infrastructure, subject to prior approval. The collaboration will further provide opportunities to participate in seminars and lectures conducted by IIT Ropar faculty through online and offline modes.
The two institutions have also agreed to jointly develop technological knowledge in areas of mutual interest, strengthening academic and research collaboration between IIT Ropar and the Indian Army.
“This agreement is a significant step in our continuing engagement with the Indian Army. Our faculty and infrastructure are now directly contributing to the technical education of officers who serve on the frontlines of our national defence. We look forward to deepening this collaboration in the years ahead,” said Prof Rajeev Ahuja, Director, IIT Ropar.
IIT Ropar has been working with the Indian Army on academic and research cooperation since an MoU was signed between Army Training Command, Integrated Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (Army), and the institute in December 2022.
The institute’s Defence Research and Innovation Foundation has played a key role in strengthening the partnership, with the latest agreement expanding the collaboration to formal postgraduate education and research for Army officers.
