The partnership encourages direct contact and co-operation between their faculty and administrative staff, departments and research centers

India, 08 December 2022: Plaksha University, a new-age university with the aim to reimagine technology education and research in India, and The Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, one of the premier science research institutes in the country, signed an MoU to encourage liaison between their faculty and administrative staff, departments and research centers.

The MoU was signed by Prof. Rudra Pratap, the Founding Vice Chancellor of Plaksha University and Prof. Jayaraman Gowrishankar, the Director of IISER Mohali at Plaksha University, Mohali.

The two institutes mutually agreed upon the exchange of information and resources for enabling collaborative research, including, but not limited to, joint research funding proposals and joint research publications. The MoU also assured internship opportunities for students at laboratories of IISER Mohali. This partnership will enhance faculty mobility opportunities through short-term teaching and/or research activities at undergraduate and graduate levels in Plaksha University.

The partnership will also enable the institutions to mutually leverage:

• Visits by and exchange of faculty members, students, and research scholars
• Joint research guidance of Master’s and PhD students in areas of mutual interest, exchange of information, and development of projects and publications
• Internship opportunities for students at laboratories of the respective institutions
• Joint workshops, conferences, symposia
• Special short-term programs at undergraduate and graduate levels
• Sharing of research and academic facilities between Plaksha University and IISER Mohali

Prof. Rudra Pratap said, “It is an honour to work with IISER Mohali. This partnership is aligned with our goal of providing blended learning with a razor-sharp focus on research-based pedagogy. It is an excellent opportunity for faculty and students to access best-in-class research facilities at both institutions, co-create innovative programs in education and research, and jointly address the most significant problems of our society."

Speaking about the partnership Prof. Jayaraman Gowrishankar, Director, IISER Mohali stated, “It’s a delight that IISER Mohali and Plaksha University are entering into an MoU where both sides are committed to excellence of international standards. The Board of Governors of IISER Mohali has enthusiastically supported this initiative. The two institutions have great complementarities, which should be utilized to make this MoU a success. We expect both the teaching and the research activities of the two institutions to be mutually enriched through the MoU.”

About Plaksha University

Founded by a global community of 100+ technology and business leaders, Plaksha envisions to reimagine technology education and research for India and the world. With strong partnerships with UC Berkeley, Purdue, UC San Diego, IIT Kanpur, and IISc Bangalore, Plaksha aims to nurture and empower a generation of catalytic leaders and create an ecosystem of research and innovation. The university collapses the traditional boundaries of engineering and promotes interdisciplinary learning by combining technology, design and entrepreneurship.

Plaksha is guided by an eminent academic board including Dr. Vijay Kumar, Nemirovsky Family Dean of Penn Engineering, University of Pennsylvania; Venkatesh Narayanamurthi, former Dean of Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Sriram Rajamani, Managing Director, Microsoft Research India Julia Ross, Dean of Engineering, Virginia Tech; Krishna Palepu, Ross Graham Walker Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School; Sanjay Sarma, Fred Fort Flowers and Daniel Fort Flowers Professor of Mechanical Engineering, MIT; and business leaders such as Neeraj Aggarwal, Chairman – Asia Pacific, BCG; Hitesh Oberoi, Co-promoter & CEO, Info Edge (Naukri.com); Srikanth Velamakanni, Co-founder, Fractal Analytics; Manas Fuloria, Co- Founder, Nagarro; Rakesh Bharti Mittal, Vice Chairman, Bharti Enterprises; Navin Chaddha, Managing Director, Mayfield Fund; Sujeet Kumar, Co-founder, Udaan.com; Dalip Pathak, Special Limited Partner, Warburg Pincus LLC; CP Gurnani, MD & CEO, Tech Mahindra; Pramod Bhasin, Chairman, Clix Capital among others. Corporate donors include companies like Bharti Foundation, Havells, HT Parekh Foundation, Mphasis, Axis Bank and Motilal Oswal. The global community of business leaders who founded Plaksha can be seen here.

About IISER Mohali:

The Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali is an Institute of National Importance in India that is established through an act of the Indian Parliament, in order to impart quality science education and inculcate the spirit of research through innovative teaching and research methodologies. Over the last 15 years, it has emerged as a preferred destination for academically gifted students from across the country. It admits students for integrated masters (BS-MS), integrated PhD and doctoral programs. The faculty members have research collaborations all across the globe. They have received highly competitive fellowships and grants and are contributing as authors as well editors in many reputed scientific journals. Master's students are encouraged to engage themselves in student mobility programs while pursuing their year-long master’s thesis. Apart from the core subjects of basic sciences, such as Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics the Institute also imparts education in Data Science, Science Education, Science and Society Studies, Astronomy and Earth Sciences, where students may opt for a minor degree along with their major course of study.