Gandhinagar, August 18: The Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Port Said University (PSU), Egypt, on August 17, 2026, to strengthen academic and research collaboration between the institutions. The partnership will open opportunities for students, faculty members and researchers from both institutions to engage in academic exchange, collaborative research and other international activities.
The collaboration will provide opportunities for IIT Gandhinagar and Port Said University to work together in science, engineering and humanities, while promoting academic exchange, research collaboration and greater interaction among their faculty members, departments, institutes and research centres.
Prof Rajat Moona, Director, IITGN, welcomed the delegation from Port Said University and highlighted the opportunity to build on the Institute’s new Maritime Engineering programme. He said, “It is a pleasure to welcome our colleagues from Port Said University, especially the President and the delegation, to IIT Gandhinagar. We see this partnership as an opportunity to connect our academic and research strengths and create meaningful opportunities for students and faculty on both sides. We look forward to building this relationship further in the years ahead.”
Prof Sherif Youssef Saleh, President of Port Said University, pointed out the significance of academic and scientific collaboration with IIT Gandhinagar and the potential benefits this partnership could bring to both universities. He highlighted the scope for cooperation in education and research and the potential for students, faculty, and researchers to engage through the partnership. He said, “We are very happy to establish this partnership with IIT Gandhinagar. There is great potential for academic and scientific cooperation. We look forward to developing this relationship further and strengthening the academic ties between Port Said University and IIT Gandhinagar.”
Prof Amit Prashant, Dean, External Relations, IITGN, elaborated on the various possibilities for student and faculty engagement under international partnerships, including flexible-duration academic exchanges, research internships and cultural immersion programmes. He also shared examples of IITGN’s approach to facilitating internship opportunities through connections between students and research laboratories, as well as possible arrangements for hosting and supporting students during exchange programmes.
During the interaction, Prof Madhav Pathak, Faculty-in-Charge, International Relations, IIT Gandhinagar, gave an overview of IITGN and its academic and research ecosystem. He also spoke about the Institute’s international engagements and the range of academic collaborations it has been building with institutions across the world.
Dr Ayat Saad Ahmed Ismail, Head, Bureau of Cultural and Educational Relations, Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt, New Delhi, also shared insights during the interaction. The programme included a presentation and institutional video by Port Said University, followed by an open discussion on potential areas of collaboration before the MoU was formally signed.
Prof Mukesh Dhanka, Coordinator for Africa, International Relations, IIT Gandhinagar, coordinated the MoU-signing ceremony and discussed the research collaboration possibilities in biological sciences and engineering. The interaction was attended by Prof S P Mehrotra, Dean, Faculty Affairs; Prof Vimal Mishra, Dean, Research and Development; Mr. Somnath Mitra; and Heads of various departments at IIT Gandhinagar, along with faculty members from across the Institute. They participated in discussions on potential areas of academic and research collaboration with Port Said University.
The MoU provides for a range of possible collaborative activities, including student exchange; exchange of faculty members for teaching, research, and internships; study-abroad and immersion programmes; social immersion programmes; joint and double-degree programmes at the Master’s and PhD levels; collaborative development of courses and academic programmes; online courses and certificate and degree programmes; and joint workshops and conferences.
The partnership also provides a platform for both the institutions to exchange information on their research and educational programmes and explore cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
Port Said University is a public university located at the entrance of the Suez Canal in Egypt and serves as an academic and research hub for Egypt, the Middle East and Africa. IIT Gandhinagar, established by an Act of the Indian Parliament in 2008, is an Institute of National Importance focused on excellence in science and technology education, research and development, with an emphasis on industrial applications and societal impact.
The partnership will strengthen academic ties between India and Egypt and will give more opportunities to the students, faculty and researchers on both sides to learn, collaborate and work together.