BITS Pilani has signed an MoU with University at Buffalo (UB), the State University of New York (SUNY) to expedite long-term collaboration and further foster the continued synergy between research and education. As part of this MoU, BITS and SUNY-Buffalo will jointly develop a 2+2 joint undergraduate programme in engineering and related fields. Students enrolled in these programmes will complete their first two years at BITS and then transfer to the University at Buffalo for the final two years. Specific details such as courses, study plans, fees, scholarships and course features will be finalised in a separate agreement to be signed at a later date. Additionally, the institutions are also working towards establishing a "2+3" cooperative Bachelor of Science/Master of Science (BS/MS) programmes. Under this novel plan, students will finish their first two years of undergraduate studies at BITS before transferring to UB to complete prerequisites for both the BS and MS degrees. In future, both BITS and UB are considering collaborating on postgraduate programmes that could include PhD courses. The MoU expresses the commitment to promote collaboration among academics in the areas of teaching, research, publications, discussion and networking. These initiatives are designed to foster academic and faculty exchange while exploring new areas of collaborative teaching and research, the official release stated. "We are delighted to begin this transformative journey of academic collaboration with the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York. Through this MoU, we hope to give our students access to top-notch education, promote global perspectives, and equip them to face the difficulties of a fast-changing global environment. This collaboration is a prime example of BITS Pilani's commitment to developing the next generation of leaders and advancing global knowledge," said Prof Ramgopal Rao, VC, BITS Pilani.
