BITS Pilani, USC Viterbi School of Engineering launch dual degree programme, joint research initiatives

Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani and the University of Southern California (USC) Viterbi School of Engineering, USA, have announced a dual degree programme in engineering. The institutes have also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for global research collaboration in the technology field and student exchange opportunities in higher education.

Both BITS Pilani and USC Viterbi School of Engineering plan to exchange knowledge in science, technology, and engineering, while exploring emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, data analytics, quantum computing and sustainable engineering.

BITS Pilani, USC Viterbi: Dual degree programme

Under the new collaboration, Bachelor of Engineering (BE) students at BITS will have the opportunity to pursue a Master of Science (MS) programme from USC Viterbi School of Engineering after completing their third year itself.

They will be able to complete their BE fourth year at BITS and can simultaneously start their MS under the guidance of the USC Viterbi faculty.

A short-term student exchange programme will allow USC Viterbi students to visit BITS Pilani for a period of two weeks and experience the academic and cultural environment of India. “This will facilitate the exchange of expertise and ideas between USC and BITS,” an official statement read.

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Lastly, this partnership will allow easier exchange of faculty of BITS Pilani and USC Viterbi for teaching, conducting seminars, and joint research projects. This will foster better research communication and will drive more discoveries within the two institutes.

BITS, USC Viterbi pact ‘a step forward’

Ramgopal Rao, group vice chancellor of BITS Pilani said, “This partnership represents a significant step forward in our mission to provide global opportunities for our students and faculty. By combining the strengths of both institutions, we aim to foster innovation, enhance learning experiences, and contribute meaningfully to the advancement of education and research.”

The agreement was formalised at a ceremony at USC Viterbi’s Olin hall of engineering, with Rao, Arya Kumar and Sachin Arya as representatives of BITS Pilani. USC Viterbi representatives included dean Yannis C Yortsos; USC vice president for global and online initiatives Anthony Bailey; and USC Viterbi vice-dean for global academic initiatives Raghu Raghavendra.

“By combining the expertise and vision of both institutions, we aim to create transformative opportunities for students and faculty while addressing some of the most complex challenges of our time,” Yortsos said.