The Office of International Relations, IIT Bombay, successfully hosted the International Summer School 2026 from 6–11 July 2026.

 The one-week programme offered international students an opportunity to learn from IIT Bombay faculty, interact with peers from across the world, and experience the vibrant academic and cultural environment of the institute. 

This year's Summer School welcomed over 68 students from 21 countries and 27+ universities, making it one of the most diverse editions of the programme. Participants came from Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Canada, Finland, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Latvia, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, the Netherlands, Oman, the Philippines, Russia, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam. The programme also saw the participation of 20 students from seven Japanese universities, further strengthening IIT Bombay's academic engagement with Japan. 

A total of six interdisciplinary courses were offered by IIT Bombay Faculty Members: Applications of Biostatistics in Biology & Biomedical Engineering, Becoming an Entrepreneur, Group Testing: An Important Tool for Data Science, Waste to Energy, Quantitative Finance: From Stochastic Models to Deep Learning, and Neuromorphic Computing. Along with classroom learning, participants interacted with IIT Bombay faculty and students, built international friendships, and experienced life on the IIT Bombay campus. 

The International Summer School reflects IIT Bombay's continued commitment to promoting academic excellence, international collaboration, and cross-cultural learning. We thank all the participants, faculty members (Course Instructors), and volunteers for making the International Summer School 2026 a great success and look forward to welcoming many more students to IIT Bombay in the years to come.  

Office of International Relations, IIT Bombay, participated in the Asian Universities Alliance (AUA) Summit 2026, hosted by Nazarbayev University in Astana, Kazakhstan, from 1–2 June 2026. The Summit brought together university leaders, researchers, and policymakers from leading Asian institutions to discuss the future of higher education, governance innovation, industry engagement, and regional collaboration. 

IIT Bombay was represented by Professor Sudarshan Kumar, Dean of International Relations, along with members of the Office of International Relations. Professor Kumar served as the Chair of the Working Group on Financial Sustainability, leading discussions on strategies and best practices to strengthen the long-term sustainability of higher education institutions across the AUA network. The Asian Universities Alliance (AUA) is an active consortium of which IIT Bombay is a proud member, fostering cooperation among leading Asian universities in education, research, innovation, and student mobility. 

The Summit provided an excellent platform to exchange ideas, strengthen partnerships, and explore new opportunities for academic and research collaboration across Asia. IIT Bombay remains committed to advancing international engagement, promoting student and faculty mobility, and contributing to collaborative initiatives that address global challenges.  

Office of International Relations, IIT Bombay, participated in the HSE University St. Petersburg International Partners’ Week (IPW) 2026, held from 18–22 May 2026 in Saint Petersburg, Russia, to strengthen international partnerships and explore new avenues for academic and research collaboration. The flagship event brought together more than 100 delegates from over 45 universities across 20 countries, providing a vibrant platform for global academic dialogue, internationalization, academic mobility, artificial intelligence, and emerging models of university collaboration. The programme featured panel discussions, lectures, workshops, networking sessions, and a student fair, fostering meaningful engagement among institutions worldwide. 

IIT Bombay was represented by Professor Sudarshan Kumar, Dean of International Relations; Professor Nagendra Kumar, Department of Aerospace Engineering; Professor Avradeep Pal, Department of Physics; and members of the Office of International Relations. HSE University is one of IIT Bombay’s key strategic partners, with several collaborative initiatives currently underway, including student mobility, academic exchange, and research collaborations. Notably, the Department of Physics at IIT Bombay and HSE University are actively engaged in collaborative research activities. Participation in IPW 2026 provided an excellent opportunity to strengthen existing partnerships, explore new avenues for cooperation, and further advance IIT Bombay’s global engagement efforts.

Prof. Sudarshan Kumar, Dean (International Relations), along with his team, had the privilege of meeting Hon’ble Mr. Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, Federal Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism, Austria; H.E. Dr. Robert Zischg, Ambassador of Austria to India and Mag. Florian Frauscher, MLS, Head of the Federal Ministry of Economics, Energy and Tourism on 13th April, 2026. The interaction also included representatives from Austrian Technical Universities - Mr. Clemens Weihs, Team Lead, Strategic Partnerships; Dr.-Ing. Susanne Feiel, Director, International Relations, Montanuniversität Leoben and Dr. Christian Hoffmann, Senior Advisor, Innovation and Equity Management, TU Wien.

The discussions highlighted innovation and start-up ecosystems as key areas of collaboration. Prof. Kumar shared insights into IIT Bombay’s vibrant entrepreneurship ecosystem, industry partnerships and translational research initiatives. The meeting also included discussions on the existing collaborations between IIT Bombay and Austrian Technical Universities—Montanuniversität Leoben, TU Wien and TU Graz—and opportunities to further strengthen these partnerships. The interaction marked a significant step forward in advancing academic and research collaborations between IIT Bombay and Austrian Technical Universities.

 #IITBombay #InternationalRelations #AustriaIndia #GlobalPartnerships #ResearchCollaboration #HigherEducation #Innovation #Startups #AcademicPartnerships #MUL #TUWien #TUGraz 

MUL: https://www.linkedin.com/school/montanuniversit%C3%A4t-leoben/ 

TU Wien https://www.linkedin.com/school/tuwien/ 

U Graz https://www.linkedin.com/school/tugraz1811/  

Dr.-Ing. Susanne Feiel https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanne-feiel/ 

Dr. Christian Hoffmann https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-hoffmann-b1a23446/ 

We are pleased to announce that IIT Bombay has signed an MoU with the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Japan, to establish a Joint Virtual Research Centre dedicated to strengthening collaborative research in advanced materials. 

The MoU was formally exchanged between Prof. Shireesh B Kedare, Director of IIT Bombay, and Dr. Kazuhiro Hono, President of NIMS Japan. This Joint Research Centre will provide a robust platform for faculty members and researchers from both institutions to engage in cutting-edge research in the fields of Materials Science, exchange scientific expertise, and build long-term collaborative partnerships. 

The initiative will further facilitate extended research stays for IIT Bombay faculty and graduate students at NIMS Japan through various programs, including the NIMS Internship Scheme, the International Cooperative Graduate Program (ICGP), JST-LOTUS, and the JST Sakura Science Program. Both institutions envision the Centre as a world-class hub for scientific innovation—advancing the frontiers of materials research, shaping global academic and industrial perspectives, and nurturing the next generation of world-class scientists.

IIT Bombay was pleased to host a high-level delegation from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), USA on 16th February 2026 for the academic engagements aimed at advancing the proposed IITB–UIUC Undergraduate Exchange Programme. The visit featured leadership interactions, curriculum discussions, faculty presentations and the formalisation of the UG Exchange Programme through an MoU signing ceremony. The IITB–UIUC UG Cohort Exchange Programme has been designed to enable students from both institutions to visit each other’s campuses and learn, innovate and grow together through joint academic engagement, shared cohorts, cross-cultural exposure and global professional pathways.

The first trial cohort is planned for AY 2026–27, targeting 3rd-year undergraduate students, with opportunities for IIT Bombay students to undertake a two-month internship in the United States after their third year, with earning potential. The pilot phase will commence with six departments — Department of Aerospace Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering and Department of Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science.

The programme is envisaged as the foundation of a broader long-term strategic partnership, with future expansion into postgraduate exchanges, joint or integrated degree programmes, cotutelle pathways, collaborative research initiatives and wider global innovation partnerships. This engagement marks an important step towards strengthening IIT Bombay’s global partnerships and building a sustained academic collaboration with UIUC.