Prof. V. Balakista Reddy, Chairman of Telangana State Council of Higher Education (TGCHE), visited IIT-Madras recently with a possibility of developing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between TGCHE and IIT-Madras to explore its capability to leverage its prowess in creating research parks and innovation hubs for improving the technological education in the state for students in Telangana at higher levels of study.
In the discussions, Prof. Reddy emphasized incubation centres, research parks, and programmes on building human capacity as part of his recommendations. Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT-Madras, gave insight into some of the initiatives in which Pravartak, NPTEL, and Vidya Shakti, etc., have immensely supported improving the framework of technology education. Prof. Kamakoti promised all help in TGCHE for aspects like startup incubation, infrastructure development, and establishing industry-university links.
Prof. Reddy assured Prof. Kamakoti that all necessary resources, including state government support and investments, would be provided for the successful implementation of these initiatives as the Telangana Chief Minister Sri.Revanth Reddy has shown a keen interest in advancing technological development in higher education.
The meeting also included Prof. Mangala SunderKrishnan, Dr.Shankar Raman, CEO-IITM Pravartak, Prof.Ramanujam Sarathi, Dean-IIT, Mr.Balamurali Shankar, CKO-IITM Pravartak, Mr. Srinivasan Gowrishankar, Project Manager-IITM Pravartak. The collaboration promises to enhance the scope of technological education and innovation in Telangana, benefiting students and the region's growth.
Prof. Reddy, also held productive meetings with prominent leaders from IIT-Madras to explore strategic collaborations aimed at enhancing technological education and practical skills for students in Telangana. In a meeting with Prof. Andrew Thangaraj, NPTEL Coordinator at IIT-Madras, Prof. Reddy was briefed about the extensive range of NPTEL (National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning) courses offered to students in higher education. Prof. Thangaraj highlighted the scope of NPTEL’s offerings and assured that TGCHE would be involved in the teaching domain to benefit Telangana students, providing them with access to world-class online resources and certifications.
Prof. Reddy also met Prof. Ramanujam Sarathi, IIT-Madras Coordinator for Swayam PLU Scourses, who took the team through the various online learning options available under the Swayam initiative. Prof. Sarathi emphasized the role of these platforms in providing quality education to students across India, particularly in underrepresented regions like Telangana.
The meetings, attended by Ms.Bharathi (Head of Operations, NPTEL), Prof.Mangala SunderKrishnan (IIT-Madras), Mr.Kannan Krishnamurty, (Producer-NPTEL Videos) and other senior officials, were pivotal in expanding the scope of technological education and hands-on practical experience for students in Telangana, with both NPTEL and Swayam programs playing key roles in this vision.
Prof. Reddy, on his visit focused on incubation support, research initiatives, and technology-driven education models, met with Dr. M.J. Shankar Raman, CEO of IIT-Madras Pravartak, to discuss the Institute’s incubation centers and the various research support programs offered by Pravartak. Prof. Reddy was impressed by the range of services available to foster innovation and entrepreneurship.
During his visit, Prof. Reddy was also guided by Prof. M.S. Ramachandra Rao through the advanced processes of lab-grown diamond manufacturing at the IIT-Madras Research Park. He was further introduced to the park’s thriving innovation ecosystem, with Mr. Rajendra Mootha, Head of New Initiatives, providing an insightful tour of the park’s established incubation facilities.
As an expert in Space Technology & Space Law, Prof. Reddy visited the prestigious Rocket Factory, a Space Technology Incubator at IIT-Madras, to explore the potential for similar initiatives in Telangana’s higher education system.
The visit was warmly hosted by IIT-Madras, with Prof. Manu Santhanam, Prof. Thenmozhi, and other staff extending a cordial welcome to Prof. Reddy. This engagement marks a step toward fostering future collaborations for technological advancement and research excellence in Telangana.
