IITRAM NFSU Collaboration Boosts Student Research & Skills
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The Institute of Infrastructure Technology Research and Management (IITRAM), Ahmedabad, and the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), Gandhinagar, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen academic collaboration and research partnerships. This IITRAM NFSU Collaboration marks a new phase of cooperation between engineering and forensic science fields. IITRAM was established in 2013 under Gujarat State Legislature Act No. 5, 2013. It is an autonomous state university. It offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD programs in engineering, basic sciences, humanities & social sciences. It focuses on Infrastructure Technology, Research, and Management.
IITRAM was established in 2013 by the Government of Gujarat as an autonomous state university under Act No. 5, 2013. It is known for strong programs in engineering, basic sciences, humanities, and social sciences. NFSU, earlier called Gujarat Forensic Sciences University, is India’s only university dedicated solely to forensic sciences. Having many campuses, NFSU offers a broad set of courses in criminology, behavioural forensics, forensic labs, etc. The IITRAM NFSU Collaboration gives students from both institutions opportunities they haven’t had before.
The MoU was signed by Prof. (Dr.) M.K. Barua, Director, IITRAM, and Prof. (Dr.) S.O. Junare, Campus Director, NFSU, in the presence of Prof. (Dr.) J.M. Vyas, Vice Chancellor, NFSU. Prof. Barua leads IITRAM, which has Centres of Excellence in areas like artificial intelligence, drone technology, machine learning, research labs, etc. Prof. Vyas is an experienced forensic scientist with many years of leadership in forensic education and research. Through the IITRAM NFSU Collaboration, both institutions can share top faculty, researchers and build better labs and tools.
The collaboration aims to facilitate joint research initiatives, faculty and student exchange programs, and the sharing of academic resources. It also includes organising conferences, seminars, workshops, and training programs to advance professional skills and foster innovation. IITRAM has already organised events like ICRAM-2025 (on mechanical infrastructure) and runs CoEs that connect with industry and research; NFSU has strong lab-based training and forensic case-studies. With IITRAM NFSU Collaboration, students may attend joint workshops, use shared labs, and benefit from both engineering-based and forensic science-based teaching.
On this occasion, dignitaries highlighted that the partnership will leverage the academic strengths of both institutions, creating new opportunities in engineering, technology, forensic science, and related fields. They expressed confidence that this alliance will significantly contribute to interdisciplinary education, research, and skill development in emerging domains. Interdisciplinary education blends courses and practical skills across engineering, technology, infrastructure, and forensics. IITRAM’s technical tools and labs, plus NFSU’s forensic science expertise, can together support fields like cyber-forensics, digital evidence, structural safety, environmental forensics, etc. The IITRAM NFSU Collaboration hopes to prepare students for modern job demands, where problems are complex and need knowledge from more than one domain.
IITRAM already has experience organising international conferences (for example, ICRAM-2025 on mechanical infrastructure) and holding workshops and training through its CoEs. These centres often partner with industry and academic bodies. NFSU similarly conducts workshops, training, and research in forensic science, behavioural forensics, and criminology. It supports students in hands-on skills (lab, field work). This MoU will help both in making resources like lab equipment, forensic tools, and software more widely available, as well as share faculty who are experts.
On this occasion, dignitaries highlighted that the partnership will leverage the academic strengths of both institutions, creating new opportunities in engineering, technology, forensic science, and related fields. They expressed confidence that this alliance will significantly contribute to interdisciplinary education, research, and skill development in emerging domains.
The IITRAM NFSU Collaboration is more than an agreement. It is a bridge between infrastructure, technology, and forensic science. It aims to benefit research, student learning, skill building, and innovation. It will help Gujarat’s higher education sector, especially in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, by improving quality, widening choice, and enabling students to work in new areas that need a mix of engineering and forensic science knowledge.
Interdisciplinary education is becoming more important globally. Merging engineering/technology (IITRAM’s strength) with forensic science (NFSU’s strength) can lead to fields like digital forensics, forensic engineering, cybercrime investigations, infrastructure safety, etc. Students trained this way are seen as more employable.
Also, Gujarat is pushing to develop education hubs; both institutes are in or near Ahmedabad / Gandhinagar, which helps in collaboration, mobility, and access for students and faculty.