In a significant stride towards international academic collaboration, National Institute of Technology Calicut (NITC) has signed a transfer of articulation agreement with the University of North Texas (UNT) to offer a dual master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering. This partnership provides postgraduate students from NITC’s Department of Bioscience and Engineering the opportunity to earn both an MTech in Bioengineering from NITC and an MS in Biomedical Engineering from UNT.

Under this program, students will complete one year of coursework at NITC, followed by a year of study and thesis work at UNT, based in the United States. The agreement facilitates seamless credit transfers, enabling students to gain international exposure and advanced expertise in bioengineering—a field with growing global demand. This is NITC’s first international dual degree program, marking a significant milestone in the institute’s efforts to enhance global educational opportunities for its students.

During the Transfer of Articulation Agreement, Prof. Prasad Krishna, Director of NITC, expressed the institute’s commitment to launching more dual and joint degree programs with prestigious global universities. He highlighted the alignment of the initiative with India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, emphasizing its role in internationalizing higher education.

Prof. Paul Krueger, Dean of the College of Engineering at UNT, encouraged students to explore the myriad opportunities available in the fields of bioengineering and biomedical sciences in the United States. He also noted UNT's strengths in supporting both master’s and doctoral programs.

The event, held at NITC’s Senate Hall, saw participation from over 100 students and faculty members. Distinguished speakers included Dr. M.K. Ravi Varma, Dean (International, Alumni and Corporate Relations), Dr. T.P. Sethumadhavan, Professor at Transdisciplinary Health University, Bengaluru, and Dr. Baiju G Nair, Head of NITC’s Department of Bioscience and Engineering. Prof. Vijay Vaidyanathan, Chair of Biomedical Engineering at UNT, attended the event virtually.

NITC also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with BRIDG 360, a Texas-based social entrepreneurship firm, to explore further academic collaborations with US institutions, benefitting both students and faculty.