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Binghamton University, Vellore Institute of Technology sign new cooperation agreement

Connections deepen between Indian university, Thomas J. Watson School

Binghamton University Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Donald Nieman, left, and Vellore Institute of Technology Chancellor Govindasamy Viswanathan signed a deal that reaffirms a partnership between VIT and the Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science. Binghamton University Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Donald Nieman, left, and Vellore Institute of Technology Chancellor Govindasamy Viswanathan signed a deal that reaffirms a partnership between VIT and the Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science.
Binghamton University Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Donald Nieman, left, and Vellore Institute of Technology Chancellor Govindasamy Viswanathan signed a deal that reaffirms a partnership between VIT and the Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science. Image Credit: Casey Staff.
By Chris Kocher
June 24, 2019

Leaders from Binghamton University and India’s Vellore Institute of Technology committed to a new memorandum of agreement on Monday that will strengthen ties between the two schools.

Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Donald Nieman and VIT Chancellor Govindasamy Viswanathan signed the agreement that reaffirms a partnership with the Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science that started in 2010.

Also present at the signing were Watson School Dean and SUNY Distinguished Professor Krishnaswami “Hari” Srihari; Associate Dean of Academic Affairs & Administration Peter Partell; and Sathish Rajamani, president of the VIT Alumni Association USA.

In the past nine years, a true partnership has developed between the two schools with breadth and depth. The schools have organized joint conferences, collaborated on research, hosted workshops and seminars with Watson School Faculty presenting to VIT faculty and students, welcomed students from VIT into Binghamton University graduate programs and established a 2 + 2 degree program (two years at VIT, then two years at Binghamton).

This new agreement will lead to a 3.5 + 1.5 program where students can earn a bachelor of science degree from VIT and a master of science degree from Binghamton. It also will support future research collaborations, such as labs to develop technology for autonomous vehicles.

Viswanathan is one of India’s pre-eminent figures in higher education. A former member of the Indian parliament, he founded the Vellore Institute of Technology in 1984. Today, it offers 20 undergraduate programs, 34 postgraduate programs, four integrated MS courses and four PhD programs at campuses in Vellore, Chennai, Bhopal and Amaravati.

While on the Binghamton campus, Viswanathan met with Watson School faculty and administrators, Binghamton University school deans and vice provosts, toured campus laboratories, and met with the vice president for research.

The University is looking to expand its partnership with VIT into collaborations with the School of Management and, later, with other academic units.