IIT Roorkee and University of Calgary Sign Agreement for Joint Doctoral Degree Program

IIT Roorkee (IITR) and the University of Calgary (UCalgary) have signed an Agreement for a Joint Doctoral Degree Program (JDDP), marking a significant milestone in strengthening academic and research collaboration between the two leading institutions. The agreement was formally executed during a signing ceremony held in Calgary, Canada.

The ceremony was attended by Prof. K. K. Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee; Prof. Karun Rawat, Dean, International Relations; Prof. Naveen Navani, Dean, Academic Affairs; Prof. Siddhartha Khare; and Prof. Komal Tripathi. Representing the University of Calgary were Dr. Sandra Davidson, Provost and Vice President (Academic); Dr. Tara Beattie, Vice-Provost and Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies; Dr. Anders Nygren, Dean, Schulich School of Engineering; Dr. Gopal Achari, Department Head, Civil Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering; Buffy St-Amand, Senior Director, International; and Catherine McLeod, Senior Director, Strategic Operations along with other distinguished officials and faculty members.

The JDDP is envisioned as a platform for deepening academic exchange, strengthening joint research, and developing globally relevant technologies. The collaboration will promote research in emerging and strategically important areas, including sustainable development, clean Energy, circular economy, water and wastewater management, and critical minerals, as well as technologies aligned with India’s growing semiconductor ecosystem.

The partnership places strong emphasis on translating research into technology-based solutions, with a focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, technology commercialization, and societal impact. Through the Joint Doctoral Degree Program, doctoral scholars will benefit from joint supervision, interdisciplinary research exposure, and access to the academic and research ecosystems of both institutions.

Commenting on the collaboration, Prof. K. K. Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee, said, “This Joint Doctoral Degree Program represents an important step towards building a deeper and more strategic academic partnership between IIT Roorkee and the University of Calgary. By bringing together complementary expertise, we can create new opportunities for interdisciplinary research, nurture globally competitive doctoral talent, and accelerate the translation of research into technologies that address critical societal and industrial challenges. We look forward to building a long-term partnership that contributes to innovation, sustainability and global technological advancement.”

Reflecting on the role of the JDDP Agreement in deepening academic and research ties, Dr. Sandra Davidson, Provost and Vice President (Academic), University of Calgary said, “International academic partnerships play an important role in advancing research and preparing students to succeed in a globally connected world. This Joint PhD agreement builds on a strong foundation of collaboration between the University of Calgary and IIT Roorkee and will create meaningful opportunities for doctoral students and faculty to learn, discover, and solve important research questions together.”

The officials from both institutions congratulated each other on this important milestone and reaffirmed their commitment to expanding academic mobility, strengthening collaborative research, and fostering a long-term partnership focused on excellence, innovation and global impact.