The International Relations Conclave, a highly influential platform encompassing all Indian Institutes of Technology, is dedicated to facilitating discussions on the internationalization of higher education at IITs. In the year 2023, the IR Conclave took place at the prestigious IIT Roorkee campus, unfolding its proceedings on November 6 and 7. This noteworthy event brought together a diverse range of stakeholders to address the various challenges associated with international education collaboration. The IR Conclave 2023 served as a platform for thought leaders, experts, and representatives from academia and funding agencies to engage in extensive dialogues regarding strategies for internationalization within the Indian Institute of Technology system. The event was structured to promote collaboration, knowledge sharing, and collective brainstorming on matters of paramount significance in the field of internationalizing higher education.
The inaugural session of the event witnessed the presence of a distinguished panel of dignitaries, including Prof. K. K. Pant (Director, IIT Roorkee); Dr. S. K. Varshney (International Cooperation, Department of Science and Technology); Prof. Nitin Seth (Director, Indo-French Centre for Promotion of Advanced Research – IFCPAR / CEFIPRA); Dr. B. Chandrasekar (Executive Director, Corporate Planning, EdCIL (India) Limited, a Mini Ratna Category 1 CPSE); Prof. V. C. Srivastava (Dean, International Relations); and Prof. Ankit Agarwal (Organizing Secretary, IR Conclave).
During his conference address, Prof. K. K. Pant, the Director of IIT Roorkee, emphasized the significance of inter-IIT collaboration and the strengthening of bonds between new and old generation IITs to address the research and development challenges of the present era. Prof. Pant highlighted that events like the All IIT Conclave offer an ideal platform for meaningful discussions on knowledge and experience sharing, as well as the formulation of strategies for academic and research cooperation.
Expanding on the conference’s importance, Prof. S.K. Varshney, Head of International Cooperation at DST, commended the efforts of IITs in enhancing internationalization and coming together to discuss challenges in academic and research collaborations. Dr. Varshney also stressed the importance of sharing expertise among IITs to enhance the academic and research excellence of both students and researchers.
Prof. Nitin Seth, Director of the Indo-French Centre for Promotion of Advanced Research (IFCPAR) / CEFIPRA, highlighted the significant potential for Indo-French collaboration. He underscored the importance of research collaboration between Indian and French institutions to drive scientific excellence, address global challenges, and create a brighter world through collaborative research and shared expertise.
The conclave featured enlightening plenary sessions on topics such as “International Students: Challenges Ahead”, “International Networking & Faculty Exchange”, “Challenges of IR Office: Open Discussions”, and “Responsibilities & Digitization of IR Office”. These sessions saw active participation from Deans, Associate Deans, Department Heads, and Faculty members, along with representatives from various IITs. The conclave concluded with a commitment to greater cooperation by establishing a permanent communication channel among all IITs, hosted by IIT Roorkee. IIT-ISM Dhanbad volunteered to host the IR Conclave next year, a proposal unanimously accepted by all participating IITs.
