NIT Tiruchirappalli signs MoU with Texas Instruments

National Institute of Technology (NIT), Trichy signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Texas Instruments (TI) engaged in the design and development of semiconductors and software to promote 
interaction between NIT Trichy and Texas Instruments in mutually beneficial areas and to provide a formal basis for initiating interaction between NIT Trichy and TI through setting up a TI Research Lab at NITT premises.

The MoU envisages joint R&D projects over a period of three years for the development of new technologies in various engineering domains. The MoU was inked in the presence of Dr Mini Shaji Thomas, Director, NIT Trichy and Shri. Sanjay Srivastav, Director, Texas Instruments India University Program.

Speaking on this occasion, Professor Dr Mini Shaji Thomas, Director, NIT Trichy, said, “We are motivated about partnering with TI to collaborate in pioneering semiconductor engineering technology for learning and mobility. As various promising opportunities seem to exist, the setting up of TI Research Lab is at the top priority and subsequently be nurtured and grown after considering the learnings and experiences from TI.  We see the program as an opportunity for us to develop a talent pool among the students of NIT-Trichy, that would 
have the edge over others in terms of acquisition of advanced knowledge and be industry-ready. NITT will provide a space and other infrastructure   to set up TI Research Lab.”

As a part of this MoU, TI will deliver products and EVMs worth USD 25000/- (United States Dollars Twenty-Five Thousand Only) from 2019 till the expiry of this MoU. These TI products and EVMs will be used by NITT in curriculum teaching and research in the area of Analog IC applications, Power Management and Embedded Systems. It is mutually agreed that free of cost training to all teaching assistants, research assistants and lab assistants towards the usage of EVMs towards curriculum teaching will be provided by TI and in turn, NITT also 
encourage their side for the same. NITT will encourage students to participate in Student Contests conducted by TI.

Hence, through this MoU, it is intended to have a mutual multi-dimensional partnership between NITT and TI, which will help to reinforce the competitive edge of the company with the academic partners with proficient faculty, in line with our vision & mission of the institute to create a future-ready organization.”This partnership will help to bridge the gap between academic excellence and business requirements, to create an industry-ready 
workforce. This initiative also supports the Government’s ‘Make in India’, ‘Skill India’ and ‘Startup India’ program, preparing the Indian industry to compete at a global platform.”

A steering committee will be set up to monitor the activities under this MoU. The committee will consist of Mr Sanjay Srivastava from TI and Prof. Umapathy Dean (Research and Consultancy) representing NITT

NIT Trichy director receives IEEE Best Teacher Award

NIT Trichy director receives IEEE Best Teacher Award

Dr. Mini Shaji Thomas, director of NIT Tiruchirappalli, received the IEEE Kerala Section 2019 Best Teacher Award in a glittering ceremony in Kozhikode in the presence of Mr. Kris Gopalakrishnan of Infosys and Dr. SivajiChakraborti, director of NIT Calicut.

Mr.Satish Babu, Chairperson of the Awards Committee recognized her as “an outstanding teacher who has promoted values-based education that combines academic excellence with compassion and service to humanity.” He further added that she is “an inspiration to students and teachers alike.”

Dr. Mini Thomas in her acceptance speech, emphasized that she chose teaching profession out of love for imparting knowledge to others, as a service to society, although she had many other job offers and opportunities.  She was excited to receive an award for teaching and encouraged the younger generation to aspire to be teachers, as good quality teachers is the need of the hour for all educational Institutions.  It was also heartening that the award ceremony in Kozhikode brought her back to REC/NIT Calicut, after 3 decades, where she started her teaching career.

Recently, during the floods that ravaged large parts of Kerala and caused massive power shut down, Dr. Mini Thomas responded to a call from the IEEE Kerala Section by providing 500 low cost electric distribution boards as minimum power outlet, with the help of NIT Tiruchirappalli students and faculty.

An electrical engineer from IIT Delhi, Mini Thomas is internationally recognized for her work in the areas of Power System Automation and SCADA.  She was head of the electrical engineering department at JamiaMiliaIslamia before assuming charge as director, NIT Tiruchirappalli.

Under her able guidance, NIT Tiruchirappalli has improved in national and international rankings.  A 180-crore Centre of Excellence in Manufacturing was set up in partnership with Siemens.  The institute signed MoUs with Tata Motors for an augmented engineering program.  BHEL, Trichy is developing the prototype of an electrical vehicle at NIT Trichy.  The Institute developed the 5 year strategic plan last year and is on an implementation path now. The campus won two green awards last year and efforts are on towards a more green and sustainable campus.

Photo from left to right

Mr Satish Babu, Awards committee chair, Mr. Kris Gopalakrishnan, Co-Founder Infosys, Mr. Amarnath Raja, CEO, Inapp, Dr. Mini Thomas, Dr. Sameer, Chair, IEEE Kerala Section.