The National Institute of Technology- Warangal (NIT-W) on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with renowned French school of engineering, Esigelec, of Roen on research and student exchange programmes.
The agreement aims at promoting research and academic exchange in the areas of Automation & Instrumentation and Embedded Systems. It facilitates M.Tech students of NIT-W (formerly known as regional engineering college) to do research and internship at the French institute.
NIT-W director YV Rao told mediapersons: “As per the MoU there would be exchange of students and faculty between the French and Indian institutions.
The mandatory internship of the M.Tech students would be done at Esigelec, while the faculty would be sent for training to sharpen their skills and keep in touch with the latest in their field of interest.’’ Esigelec director (International Relations) Cyril Martaux said that the agreement would be mutually beneficial. “Esigelec offers 10,000 euros worth of fellowships to students and the fellowship would be extended to undergraduate engineering students in the near future,’’ he said.
According to Cyril, there are around 1,500 Indian students in France and efforts are on to attract 5,000 Indian students by 2010. ``Many French institutes are not insisting on the mandatory knowledge of French language.
That is the reason for the rise in the number of foreign students in France of late,’’ he added. According to NIT officials, the Warangal- based institute is also planning to sign another pact with another French institution, N+I Campus France, comprising 69 technical institutes of France and with some more UK and German institutes in this academic year.