IIT Bombay to open first US sub-campus at SUNY Old Westbury by 2027
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, a premier educational institution in Mumbai, is set to establish its first sub-campus in the United States by 2027. The initiative will be launched in partnership with the State University of New York at Old Westbury (SUNY Old Westbury) at its Long Island campus.
A letter of intent for the collaboration was signed by IIT Bombay Director Prof Shireesh Kedare and SUNY Old Westbury President Dr Timothy E Sams. The agreement was finalized in the presence of Consul General Binaya S Pradhan, who facilitated the connection between the two educational institutions.
Following the agreement, both institutions will begin working on new academic programmes in science and engineering. These programmes will focus on emerging fields, including artificial intelligence, sustainability, and clean technology.
Speaking at a virtual press conference, Prof Kedare explained that IIT Bombay will initially offer certificate courses at the new US sub-campus, with plans to introduce long-term academic programmes at a later stage. The institute also plans to build dedicated research laboratories on the Long Island campus.
Prof Kedare highlighted the mutual benefits of the partnership, noting that SUNY Old Westbury does not currently have an engineering department. He also stated that IIT Bombay plans to leverage its strong alumni network in the United States to support the development of the new campus.
Dr Sams welcomed the partnership, stating that the goal is to create a robust IIT Bombay presence on their campus to advance teaching, innovation, and excellence in disciplines such as physics and engineering.
The early phases of the partnership will focus on faculty and researcher exchanges, joint research initiatives, and organizing joint conferences and symposia. These collaborative efforts will run alongside the development of the new degree programmes.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan welcomed the initiative, calling it a "living corridor of knowledge between India and the USA" that will create mutually beneficial opportunities for students and academics.
Housing more than 4,700 students in its liberal arts and professional courses, SUNY Old Westbury has a 60-year history with over 39,000 graduates.
