Whatever may be the extent of animosity between the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the Union Government of India regarding the issues of autonomy and pay revision, a considerable section of them refuse to forsake their core responsibilities – to impart education and remain associated with the innovations in the educational scenario.

This becomes more evident than anything else now since a number of them are launching projects along with global universities to proffer students and faculty more opportunities in addition to collaborative research and development with foreign academic partners.

One of these is certainly the IIT-Delhi that has already contrived four courses for the Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia. It is to be noted that several students in Ethiopia are at present studying engineering and technology in virtual classrooms led by IIT Delhi teachers. The idea to make Ethiopia’s students more tech-savvy was mooted by its ambassador to India and even its prime minister was eager to have an association with IIT-Delhi.

“The Ethiopian government is making rapid expansions in education but it does not have the adequate infrastructure. The ambassador talked to us and then the process moved. Even their prime minister was very eager for such association,” M Balakrishnan, dean of post-graduate studies at IIT-Delhi, said.

“Initially, we have a four-year agreement with Ethiopia. Our job is to develop curriculum, set up a laboratory, deliver lectures both through virtual classroom and face-to-face mode. We are also responsible for students’ evaluation, but the degree will be awarded by the Addis Ababa University,” added Balakrishnan.

IIT Kharagpur (IIT-KGP), on the other hand, is close to establish a 350-700 bed medical college and has signed a MoU with University of California, San Diego, as a partner for this venture. The collaboration is both for part-financing the project in addition to an academic collaboration.

To begin with IIT-KGP would fund the project with the Rs 800 crore investment it had announced earlier in infrastructure expansion till 2011.