UAlbany Expands Global Collaboration During Visit to India, Launches Strategic Partnership with Ramaiah University
By Amy Geduldig
ALBANY, N.Y. (Jan. 22, 2026) — The University at Albany developed new international academic and research collaborations during a multi-city visit to India last week, highlighted by the launch of a new strategic knowledge partnership with Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences (RUAS).
UAlbany President Havidán Rodríguez, Provost Carol H. Kim, Vice President for Research and Economic Development Thenkurussi “Kesh” Kesavadas and a delegation of campus leaders traveled to Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru to build new academic, research and industry collaborations. During the week-long visit, the group met with leadership, faculty and students from local schools, innovation partners and UAlbany alumni.
“For more than 180 years, the University at Albany has been a leader in academic and research excellence and throughout that time we have prioritized international engagement, even welcoming our first international student to campus in 1877. The collaborations we have established and expanded in India build upon that legacy. They strengthen the connection between our countries and cultures, reflecting a shared mission to prepare engaged global citizens who are ready to lead and serve in an interconnected world. I am grateful to our partners across India for their collaboration,” said Havidán Rodríguez, President of the University at Albany.
President Rodríguez’s visit to India builds on a multi-year, international strategy to develop academic and research partnerships and workforce collaborations—an effort that began two years ago, when he led a UAlbany delegation to India. During that trip, he met with RUAS to discuss opportunities in microelectronics, artificial intelligence, public health, cybersecurity and environmental sustainability. RUAS later visited UAlbany, helping lay the foundation for the expanded partnerships announced this month.
A global partnership that combines academic excellence with societal impact
In Bengaluru, UAlbany and Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences (RUAS) formalized a long-term partnership to collaborate on engineering education, advanced skills development, faculty and student exchange, joint capstone projects, curriculum co-design and translational research.
The partnership emphasizes future-facing fields including semiconductors, very large-scale integration (VLSI) design, nanotechnology, artificial intelligence and applied sciences.
A flagship element of the collaboration is the joint development of a BTech program in VLSI Design & Technology at RUAS, benchmarked against UAlbany’s internationally recognized strengths in nanoscale engineering. The collaboration will support curriculum development, laboratory planning, faculty training and ongoing academic review, aligning the program with global standards and industry needs. It is expected to roll out in phases this year, with early initiatives in curriculum development, faculty engagement, student projects and innovation-led industry partnerships.
“UAlbany is committed to mission-driven global partnerships that combine academic excellence with societal impact,” Rodríguez said. "UAlbany's collaboration with Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences brings together education, research and innovation to address real-world challenges while preparing students for leadership in advanced technology domains.”
“This partnership reflects a shift from episodic international engagements to a mature knowledge alliance,” said Dr. M. R. Jayaram, Chairman of the Ramaiah Group and Chancellor of RUAS. “Our intent is co-creation — of curricula, talent, and translational capability — aligned to India’s national priorities and global technological trajectories. The collaboration with University at Albany strengthens RUAS’s ambition to be a globally connected, industry-relevant applied sciences university.”
During the visit to RUAS, President Rodríguez also attended the inauguration of the Dassault–Ramaiah Innovation Centre, established in partnership with Dassault Systèmes. The center will support collaborative student projects, faculty research and workforce-aligned training.
Expanding learning and research opportunities
The UAlbany delegation met also with campus leaders, faculty and students at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay), the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT Hyderabad), RV University of Applied Sciences in Bengaluru, Vidya Prasarak Mandal's Polytechnic in Thane and Smt. Sulochanadevi Singhania School. In addition to signing memorandums of agreement with IIT Bombay and IIT Hyderabad, the group discussed academic pathways, student mobility, joint research initiatives and long-term collaboration models designed to expand learning and research opportunities in both countries.
The delegation also engaged with industry and innovation leaders to explore partnerships aligned with research, education and workforce needs, including advanced technologies, digital health and entrepreneurship, with a focus on translating academic research into real-world impact.