IIT Madras Partners with Renault Nissan to Drive Talent Development and Innovation

IIT Madras partners with Renault Nissan Technology for Talent Development and Innovation, offering internship and placement opportunities to 35,000 students pursuing the IIT Madras BS degree.

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has joined hands with Renault Nissan Technology and Business Centre India Pvt. Ltd. (Renault Nissan Tech) to drive talent development and innovation. This collaboration will offer internship and placement opportunities to the 35,000 students pursuing the IIT Madras BS degree while establishing a strong framework for fostering knowledge exchange and skill enhancement.

The partnership aims to enhance the academic experience of IIT Madras students through mentorship programs, viva sessions, and leadership talks delivered by Renault Nissan Tech experts. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) formalising this collaboration was exchanged on 15th November 2024 at the IIT Madras campus. The event was attended by Prof. Prathap Haridoss, Dean (Academic Courses), IIT Madras; Debashis Neogi, Managing Director of Renault Nissan Tech; and Prof. Andrew Thangaraj, Chair of the Centre for Outreach and Digital Education (CODE), Coordinator of the IITM BS Degree & NPTEL, along with senior delegates from Renault Nissan Tech.

The MoU highlights include empowering Renault Nissan Tech employees with advanced knowledge through IIT Madras Centre for Outreach and Digital Education (CODE) programs, including Web-enabled M.Tech Degree Programs, Executive Education Certificate Programs, and NPTEL courses. This collaboration further strengthens the longstanding association between Renault Nissan Tech and IIT Madras through several impactful initiatives:

• Engagement with BS Students: Senior Renault Nissan Tech professionals contributed 140+ hours as viva examiners for the Machine Learning Practice Project (Diploma level) and delivered a leadership talk on 'Explainable AI.'
• Internships to Careers: Three IIT Madras students secured internships at Renault Nissan Tech, which later converted to full-time roles.
• Thought Leadership: IIT Madras faculty participated in the 'Living with AI' panel discussion hosted by Renault Nissan Tech.
• Upskilling Initiatives: Over 300 Renault Nissan Tech professionals have enrolled in IITM CODE programs across domains like eMobility, 3D Printing, Supply Chain, Machine Learning, AI, HR Analytics, and more.
• Scholarship Support: Merit-cum-means scholarships were awarded to 300 students with an annual family income of less than INR 5 lakh.

This partnership exemplifies a robust industry-academia collaboration, fostering innovation, skill development, and social impact.

Welcoming this partnership, Prof Prathap Haridoss, Dean (Academic Courses), IIT Madras, said, “We are extremely happy to sign this MoU with Renault Nissan Tech. This is a shining example of IIT Madras’ vision to build bridges between the academic and corporate worlds. Together, Renault Nissan Tech and IIT Madras are setting a benchmark for collaboration in terms of the variety of engagements enabled. We look forward to more such engagements with the corporate sector.”

Looking forward to this collaboration, Debashis Neogi, Managing Director, Renault Nissan Tech, said, “At Renault Nissan Tech, we believe that partnerships between academia and industry are pivotal for fostering innovation and nurturing future-ready talent. This MoU with IIT Madras reinforces our shared vision of creating an ecosystem that empowers students, upskills professionals, and addresses the dynamic challenges of the automotive and technology landscape. Together, we are shaping industry leaders and solutions of tomorrow.”

Further, Prof. Andrew Thangaraj, Chair, CODE, IIT Madras and Coordinator, IITM BS Degree and NPTEL, said, “This collaboration reflects the symbiotic relationship between academia and industry, where both partners contribute to and benefit from each other’s strengths. While Renault Nissan Tech’s support through CSR initiatives, mentorship programs, and internship opportunities enhances the learning journey of our students; IIT Madras, through its cutting-edge courses, upskills their workforce, equipping them to tackle emerging challenges.”

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