On Thursday, 14 November, the Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) at the University of Twente and the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS) signed a new agreement to extend their Joint Education Programme (JEP). The agreement, signed by Dr. Raghavendra Singh, Director of IIRS, and Prof. Dr. Freek van der Meer, Dean of ITC, ensures the continuation of the collaborative Master’s and Postgraduate Diploma programs in Geoinformatics for the next five years. The virtual signing ceremony was attended by officials from both institutions, including Dr. Sander Oude Elberink, course coordinator of the JEP-IIRS at ITC and Dr. Vandita Srivastava, course director of the JEP at IIRS.
Long-term partnership
This partnership, established in 2002, has successfully graduated over 160 Master’s and 140 Postgraduate Diploma students in Geoinformatics. The collaboration leverages the complementary strengths of ITC and IIRS, enabling Indian and international students to access world-class education in geo-information science and earth observation.
With a partnership spanning more than 55 years, ITC and IIRS have developed a strong academic relationship, particularly in education and research in geospatial technology. As a key player in capacity building and research in India and beyond, IIRS operates under the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), a constituent of the Department of Space, Government of India.
The renewed agreement underscores ITC’s commitment to fostering cooperation with IIRS, with a particular focus on increasing opportunities for Indian students. Indian graduates of science and engineering are highly regarded for their technical skills and academic dedication, contributing to a high success rate in ITC’s Master’s programmes.
Academic Recognition
The Master of Science degree awarded through this programme is recognized by the Netherlands’ Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) and accredited by the Netherlands-Flemish Accreditation Organisation (NVAO). The programme is listed in the Central Register of Higher Education Programmes (CROHO) under number 75014. Additionally, the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) recognizes the MSc Geoinformatics degree as equivalent to corresponding degrees offered by Indian universities, further enhancing its value for Indian graduates.
This renewed collaboration reflects both institutions’ dedication to advancing education and professional development in geospatial sciences, strengthening ties with India and contributing to the global geoinformatics community.
