Coming: Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay-New York - Indian Express

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay, could be the first Indian institution to have a campus in the United States.

The institute has submitted an “initial proposal to the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC)” for setting up a campus in New York City. The initiative by NYCEDC, launched in December 2010, seeks a university, institution or consortium to develop and operate a new or expanded campus in NYC.

IIT-Bombay plans to start post-graduate programmes in five disciplines at the proposed campus.

“Having a campus there will make a huge difference. We will be able to engage with US universities on a closer basis and they too will be able to see our capabilities first hand,” said A Q Contractor, Dean of Alumni and Corporate Relations, IIT-Bombay. Officials said a detailed proposal will be submitted by October-end.

“The proposed campus will lead to exciting possibilities of sharing human capital, research funding and infrastructure. It will create seamless twinning opportunity for students of New York and Mumbai campuses. The students at IITB-NY campus will receive excellent quality of education, exposure to Indian culture and business practices. Budding entrepreneurs at the proposed campus will find a landing space in India through a well-established business incubator and a window to an economy slated to be the world’s largest by 2050,” says the initial proposal accessed by The Indian Express.

“It will provide IIT-Bombay an opportunity to create an off-shore campus that will bring in much needed diversity...We expect IIT-Bombay’s experience in designing niche academic programmes will be very helpful to the US clientele at the proposed campus,” it adds.