Mumbai: IIT-B is set to establish its first international sub-campus in the US, marking a significant milestone in the institute’s global ambitions and bringing one of India’s premier engineering institutions into the American higher education landscape.The new sub-campus will come up at State University of New York (SUNY) at Old Westbury on Long Island, New York, through a partnership that aims to jointly develop engineering education, research and innovation programmes. While the collaboration was formalised during a meeting between officials of the two institutions on Friday, several operational details are still being worked out.The first academic offerings are expected by 2027, when certificate programmes in artificial intelligence, sustainability and clean technology will be introduced. Degree programmes are expected to follow in phases. Since SUNY Old Westbury does not currently offer engineering courses, IIT-B will help bridge that gap by bringing its academic expertise to the campus. Faculty members from the Powai institute will travel to New York to teach and help develop the curriculum.“IIT-B is recognised as a world-class institution,” said SUNY Old Westbury president Timothy Sams. “We are excited to establish a direct partnership that advances teaching, innovation and excellence in disciplines like physics and engineering with a goal of creating a robust IIT-B presence on our campus.”Beyond classroom teaching, the collaboration will focus on building research partnerships in emerging technologies. The two institutions plan faculty and researcher exchanges, joint research projects, conferences and academic symposia while the larger academic programmes are being developed.IIT-B director Shireesh Kedare clarified that the initiative is not intended to create another route for Indian students seeking admission abroad. “The courses will be open to American students and students from around the world. The idea is not to admit Indian students through JEE (Advanced) there,” he said.The institute also expects the overseas venture to become financially self-sustaining over time. Revenue generated through the programmes will be reinvested into strengthening research infrastructure, including advanced laboratories and new research centres.The collaboration was facilitated by India’s Consul General in New York, Binaya Pradhan, who initiated discussions with SUNY Old Westbury. The move aligns with IIT-B’s strategic plan unveiled in Dec, which outlined its intention to establish its presence in the USA.
