Finally the nation’s aspirations of having a world-class engineering and technology institute is nearing fruition. A delegation of six professors from India’s prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) landed in Mauritius on Thursday. The purpose of their visit is to collaborate with the University of Mauritius and the University of Technology Mauritius to set up [...]

Finally the nation’s aspirations of having a world-class engineering and technology institute is nearing fruition. A delegation of six professors from India’s prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) landed in Mauritius on Thursday.

The purpose of their visit is to collaborate with the University of Mauritius and the University of Technology Mauritius to set up an IIT-like institution here. They will be in the island till February 6. They will visit Mauritian campuses and meet several dignitaries to conduct a feasibility study on the nation’s capacity to host such an institution.

Their expertise was sought by the minister of Tertiary Education Science and Research and Technology Rajesh Jeetah on his January 2011mission to India.

The head of Indian delegation, Professor Meenakshi Balakrishnan, said that it was through complete autonomy that the IIT has been able to gain international recognition. “Both the institution and the academics enjoy greater autonomy in the way funds are allocated and how the curriculum is set up. We are able to quickly respond to changes and innovations,” she told Jeetah.