National Institute of Technology Calicut (NITC) has entered in to a MOU with the Patel College of Global Sustainability (PCGS), University of Southern Florida (USF), USA. The Patel College of Global Sustainability (PCGS) is the newest degree-granting college at the University of South Florida and is unique in its mission and its approach. Endowed through generous gifts from Drs. Kiran and Pallavi Patel, the College and our home at the Patel Center for Global Solutions were established.  

The “Sustainability” cause of the USF where mutual collaborations will benefit NITC and its students include addressing interdisciplinary problems involving ecology, economics, politics and culture recognising the essential contributions of scholars and professionals in engineering, business, architecture and urban planning, transportation, health, global studies and the natural and social sciences. The students will be trained to create and maintain the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, fulfilling the social and economic requirements of present and future generations. The academic collaborations and faculty/student exchanges envisaged in the MoU is expected to inculcate joint R&D efforts to achieve sustainable development, both locally and globally, by fostering social, economic and environmental sustainability; that can be achieved through teaching, research, mentoring students and community outreach, as well as by generating practical knowledge and developing innovative technologies, skills and policies. The academic and exchange programs will prepare students to address complex regional, national, and global challenges related to sustainability and the ability to innovate in diverse cultural, geographic, and demographic contexts, and will offer a dynamic curriculum, top-notch internship experiences, and overall superior education for our students.

The MOU was signed on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, at a function hosted in Tampa, Florida, by the USF-PCGS.  Dr. Prasan Mohapatra, USF Provost & Executive Vice President of USF, The Dean of PCGS, Dr. Govindan Parayil, also an alumnus of NITC, Dr. Sanjukta Bhanja, Dean of College of Engineering - USF, Dr. Kiki Caruson, USF World Vice President, Dr. George Philippidis, Associate Dean for Research at PCGS, Dr. Joseph Dorsey, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at PCGS, Dr. Michael Spencer, Director of Sustainability Policy, and Dr. Pradeep Haldar were present at the function where the visiting delegation include Prof. Prasad Krishna, Director of NITC, and Dr. M K Ravi Varma, Dean (International, Alumni and Corporate Relations) at NITC. Both institutions highlighted the significance of transdisciplinary research in tackling global sustainability issues.

A significant highlight of the meeting was the execution of the MOU, which delineates a comprehensive framework for collaborative research, faculty and student exchanges, and the establishment of new academic programs focused on sustainability. Both parties deliberated on initiatives for student exchanges and the creation of a collaborative master’s program in global sustainability, aimed at offering students worldwide exposure and equipping them to tackle urgent global environmental issues. The occasion culminated in concluding statements, wherein both institutions articulated their optimism for the future of this relationship and their mutual dedication to promoting sustainability via academic and research excellence.