AU Partners with IIT Bombay for FOSSEE Programme

Allahabad University and IIT Bombay enter a five-year FOSSEE partnership to expand training, internships and academic support in open-source software and geospatial technologies for students and faculty.

Allahabad University (AU) enters into a five-year knowledge partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) under its Free/Libre and Open Source Software for Education (FOSSEE) programme. The collaboration focuses on expanding students’ access to open-source software, geospatial technologies, training and academic opportunities.

The partnership involves AU’s Departments of Geography and Electronics and Communication Engineering. It is announced during the inaugural session of a two-day workshop on open-source software and geospatial technology jointly organised by AU and IIT Bombay. More than 350 students and 50 teachers participate in the workshop.

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Under the partnership, AU students receive opportunities to undergo training in open-source tools and geospatial applications. They can also participate in FOSSEE-related internships and other academic activities supported through the programme.

FOSSEE is an IIT Bombay initiative operating under the National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology (NMEICT) of the Ministry of Education. The programme promotes the adoption and development of free and open-source software in education and research while encouraging institutions to reduce dependence on proprietary software.

The Geospatial FOSSEE initiative specifically promotes open-source geographic information system (GIS) tools such as QGIS and encourages the use of Indian satellite and Earth-observation data for addressing real-world problems. Its activities also include geospatial internships for students from recognised universities and colleges across India.

The collaboration provides AU students with additional avenues to develop practical skills in geospatial technologies and open-source software. Through training programmes, internships and related activities, students can gain exposure to tools and applications relevant to research and real-world problem-solving.

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The workshop also provides a platform for interaction between students, faculty members and experts involved in the FOSSEE programme. During the event, IIT Bombay FOSSEE National Coordinator Mohamed Kasim announces several initiatives associated with the collaboration.

The five-year partnership is expected to strengthen academic engagement between AU and IIT Bombay while expanding opportunities for students and faculty members to participate in open-source technology, geospatial research and skill-development activities.