Indian Institute of Technology-Madras' (IIT-M) collaboration with a European Union Initiative has created opportunities for students to work in the industry even before graduating and gain experience and training that would lead to Pre-Placement Opportunities.

This project will also expose students to the real-time developments and the technological needs of the industry, an IIT-M release here today said.

A novel concept in Technical Education for Developing Countries called 'Dual Education,' the TEEDE (Towards Excellence in Engineering Curricula for Dual Education) initiative was a European Union and 'Erasmus+'-a funded consortium of eminent Universities in Europe and Asia, that merges the classroom learning with industrial experiences.

In contrast to internships, which were short-term, TEEDE envisages students spending a considerable amount of time employed in industry as full-time workers, rather than interns, as part of their curriculum.

IIT-M has already developed two industry collaborations under this initiative in Genomics research, coordinated by the Department of Biotechnology, and in Petroleum Engineering coordinated by Department of Ocean Engineering.

Master's students from these departments would have the opportunity to work in companies engaged in cutting edge research in these two fields. Around 20 industry partners of this initiative attended the TEEDE workshop held at IIT-M today.

In his address, Prof Ravindra Gettu, Dean (Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research), IIT-M said the Institute has a responsibility, not only to remain in the forefront but also to innovate. ''It is good to have industry come on board early in the curriculum, helping students become more industry-ready by the time they graduate'', he added.

The partners of this TEEDE consortium were eminent Universities in Russia, Italy, Germany, Cambodia, India, China, Finland, Belgium and Spain.