IIT Delhi launches first academic programme at Sonipat campus

IIT Delhi launches its first academic programme at the Sonipat campus, a one-year PG Diploma in Solar Systems and Management, with nine international fellows and a European internship focused on applied solar technologies.

The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) launches its first academic programme at its new Sonipat campus with the commencement of a one-year Postgraduate Diploma in Solar Systems and Management. The programme is being offered by IIT Delhi’s Department of Energy Science and Engineering (DESE) in collaboration with the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and France’s Institut National de l’Énergie Solaire (INES).

The inaugural class begins on September 3, 2026, with nine international fellows from eight countries. The fellows are nominated by the ISA and participate in the programme as part of an international capacity-building initiative focused on strengthening expertise in solar technologies and their applications. The programme is sponsored by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).

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Designed as a hands-on academic and training programme, the PG Diploma provides participants with exposure to solar technology, applications and energy management. IIT Delhi faculty members, industry professionals and other experts contribute to the training, enabling fellows to develop practical knowledge relevant to the deployment and advancement of solar energy systems.

The programme also incorporates an international practical component. After successfully completing the PG Diploma, the ISA fellows undertake a one-month internship in Europe focused on applied solar technologies. Following the internship, they return to their respective countries and are assigned to Solar Technology and Application Resource Centres (STAR-C). These centres are designed to strengthen technical skills, infrastructure and innovation ecosystems in ISA member countries and support wider solar-energy deployment.

The initiative forms part of a broader cooperation framework between IIT Delhi and the International Solar Alliance. The two organisations formalised a Framework for Action earlier in 2026 to strengthen collaboration in renewable energy capacity building, academic programmes, human-resource development, research and technology cooperation across ISA member countries.

The programme also marks an important milestone for the Sonipat campus, as it becomes the first teaching programme with physical classes at the campus. IIT Delhi indicates that it plans to introduce additional academic programmes there in the coming years.

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Through the initiative, IIT Delhi seeks to contribute to the development of a skilled global solar-energy workforce. By combining academic instruction, industry exposure and international practical training, the programme aims to prepare participants to support solar technology deployment and capacity building in their home countries.

The launch further strengthens IIT Delhi’s international engagement in renewable-energy education while creating a platform for knowledge exchange among institutions, industry and energy professionals. It also aligns with the growing global focus on clean-energy skills, technology development and sustainable economic growth.