In a major milestone for global higher education, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Columbia Engineering in New York, USA, establishing an innovative 4+1 Dual Degree Programme. This historic partnership marks VIT as the first Indian university to forge a dual degree agreement with Columbia University, opening world-class international pathways for the engineering leaders of tomorrow.

The official signing ceremony was hosted at Columbia University in the distinguished presence of Shri. Binaya Srikanta Pradhan, Consul General of India in New York. VIT Vice President Dr. G. V. Selvam highlighted that the strategic initiative will drive joint research, academic exchange, and innovation leadership. The international delegation and partnership framework were coordinated by Dr. R. Seenivasan, Director – International Relations.

Describing the collaboration as a defining chapter in the history of the institution, Our Founder and Chancellor Dr. G. Viswanathan stated, “This is a landmark agreement between VIT and Columbia University. We are proud to become the first Indian university to establish a Dual Degree Programme with one of the world’s most prestigious institutions. This collaboration reflects VIT’s unwavering commitment to providing globally competitive education and creating transformative international learning opportunities for our students.”

Affirming the partnership from Columbia Engineering, Soulaymane Kachani, Dean of Academic Affairs and Global Partnerships, noted, “VIT students have consistently distinguished themselves at Columbia Engineering, and this agreement reflects our shared commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and the preparation of future engineering leaders.”

Shih-Fu Chang, Dean of Columbia Engineering, added, “The 4+1 dual degree pathway programs enable a wider pipeline of accomplished students to access the highest quality engineering education. Building on our strong collaborations in India, we’re looking forward to partnering with VIT to prepare the next generation of global engineering talent.”