IIT-Bombay to develop MTech programme for Bharat Forge employees

Pune: Auto components supplier Bharat Forge, the flagship company of the $2.4-billion Kalyani Group, has signed a letter of intent with the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, for the creation of a M Tech Programme for its employees.

The two-year full time M.Tech programme in materials, manufacturing and modelling will be specially designed to Bharat Forge's requirements, with a view to develop the research & development capabilities of its available human resources.

The proposed M.Tech programme is trans-disciplinary in nature and would be first of its kind in the institute. The first batch will commence in July 2009. During the first year of the programme, employees of BFL will be deputed to IITB for classroom training on full time basis, while during the second year the employees would do their project, jointly at Bharat Forge and IIT-B.

The letter was signed by Prof. Ashok Misra, director, IIT Bombay and B N Kalyani, chairman and managing director, Bharat Forge Limited this week. The two also plan to foster collaboration to promote academic and research interaction.

"As a technology-driven manufacturing company, we are extremely focused on people capabilities and are working towards creating a 'global talent pool'," said Kalyani.

He said as a part of this initiative, Bharat Forge had tied up with Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani for B S in manufacturing engineering, and Warwick University for M.Sc in engineering business management. With the arrangement with IIT- B now in place, we will be in a position to provide learning opportunities to our employees, at all levels.

Speaking on the occasion Prof. Misra said, ''Partnering with Bharat Forge, which is among India's most rapidly growing industrial multinationals, is a major initiative for IIT Bombay. This tie-up will promote active research and synergise and mutually benefit both academia and the growing Indian Industry.''

The M.Tech programme under this collaborative arrangement will offer the BFL employees with an opportunity to:

• Develop their research mind.
  
• Promote and activate various types of research in areas of Materials, Manufacturing and Modelling science.
  
• Enhance academic qualification of BFL employees.
  
• Synergize theory and practice on a sustained basis.
  
• Be multi-skilled with an exposure to upcoming technological areas and prepare employees to face global challenges.
  
• Participate better in organizational initiatives, improve employee's perspective and provide meaningful insights.