IIT Kharagpur Students Excel Through WMG Summer Research Experience
IIT Kharagpur students excel through WMG summer research experience
The WMG–IIT Kharagpur Summer Research Programme, developed through a long-standing collaboration between WMG and the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT Kharagpur), stands as a powerful example of successful international partnership in research and education. Running since 2011, a cohort of students from IIT Kharagpur are selected annually to undertake individual research projects at WMG, University of Warwick. This programme typically runs over the summer months from early May to July, and not only nurtures research ideas but also significantly develops the research skills of participants in an industrially focused environment.
The opportunity: Fostering global research talent
Born from a shared ambition to drive research excellence and global collaboration, the partnership has continued to grow in impact and reach. Inspired by the late Lord Bhattacharyya, founder of WMG and an alumnus of IIT Kharagpur, the collaboration is a natural alignment between WMG and one of India’s most prestigious and long-established IITs. WMG aimed to strengthen its research profile and foster deeper engagement in research, particularly among early career researchers (ECRs), by launching a programme that connects them with students from one of India’s highest-rated universities, enabling ECRs to initiate and expand their research interests. For IIT Kharagpur students, it presented an unparalleled opportunity to gain international exposure to experience Research and Development (R&D) within a UK environment. and develop their research profiles. The overarching goals were dual-faceted: to support WMG’s strategic research direction and to equip Indian students with invaluable R&D experience.
The solution: A robust partnership programme
The WMG-IIT Kharagpur programme is meticulously designed as a two-pronged initiative: a visiting student summer research programme and a fully funded PhD programme. Each year, WMG offers 10 summer school places, providing an intensive research experience for ECRs. Undergraduate and dual-degree students typically engage for 8 weeks, while postgraduate students undertake their projects over 11 weeks.
A key part of the programme’s success lies in its rigorous project selection process and comprehensive student support. Projects are jointly developed and supervised by academics from both IIT Kharagpur and WMG, ensuring relevance to the students' degree courses and alignment with both institutions' research goals. A call for project proposals is announced annually in October/November, requiring supervisors to assess feasibility and agree to support the student. WMG evaluates and selects projects based on criteria that prioritise excellent research, support for early career researchers, the development of students interested in a research-based career, and the advancement of WMG's future research directions. Example projects from 2025 highlight the cutting-edge nature of the research, encompassing areas such as Drive System and Propulsor Optimisation for Marine Electrification, AI-Enabled Digital Forensics for Additive Manufacturing, AI Models for Battery Manufacturing Process Knowledge Capture, and Predicting Pre-Arthritic Hip Geometry.
Once projects are selected, IIT Kharagpur is responsible for identifying and selecting the students, typically by the end of January. WMG provides logistical and financial support, covering on-campus accommodation for all students and a stipend to assist with travel and living expenses. An induction process ensures students are well-settled, receive essential Health and Safety training, and can access university facilities.
“The programme offers invaluable exposure to cutting-edge research at WMG and a chance to live independently in an international setting. I was especially impressed by the practical flavour to the projects. It’s a unique learning experience that I’ll always cherish.”
Bhagirathi Duvvuri, 2025 Summer School student
Impact and achievements
The WMG-IIT Kharagpur Summer Research Programme has yielded remarkable outcomes, embodying its mission to cultivate future research talent and foster international collaboration. Key successes include:
- High research output: On average, each project undertaken produces a publication, demonstrating the programme's direct contribution to academic knowledge and the development of students' publication records.
- Long term engagement: In many cases, the students continue to work on an extension of their summer project towards their final year UG project or Masters’ thesis under the joint supervision of IIT Kharagpur and WMG faculty members. These have resulted in research output and publications beyond the summer internship period.
- Pipeline for Doctoral studies: The programme serves as a vital pipeline for doctoral students, with a fully funded PhD scholarship offered annually to participants. Many successful PhD graduates have gone on to achieve significant careers either at WMG or in industry, both in the UK and India, including Professor Siddartha Khastgir, the Head of Safe Autonomy at WMG who has received numerous national and international awards for his research contributions.
- Enhanced research skills and global exposure: Students consistently develop advanced research skills, gaining invaluable exposure to a world-class R&D environment in the UK. This international experience is crucial for their career development.
- Broad academic engagement: The initiative has expanded participation across WMG, engaging approximately 50 members of staff over the last six years. This widespread involvement underscores the programme's integral role within the department and its ability to generate more project proposals than can be accommodated.
- Strategic investment in research: The programme helps develop future research directions for WMG and strategically invests in areas that lead to further funding, such as the IGNITE programme (£11m over 5 years).
Prof. Anandaroop Bhattacharya, Dean on International Relations at IIT Kharagpur underlines the impact and value of the programme for both students and faculty members:
“The summer research programme with WMG has been one of our most successful global partnerships that has stood the test of time for close to 15 years. It has benefited more than 100 students with valuable research experience and exposure, but more importantly played a pivotal role in fostering collaborations between the two institutions in areas of engineering and scientific relevance.”
Dr Sumit Hazra, Programme Lead at WMG, expresses immense pride in the programme's evolution and impact:
"The WMG–IIT Kharagpur Summer Research Programme is a pioneering collaboration between two global leaders in engineering education and research. Since 2011, it has enabled outstanding students from India’s premier IIT to engage in intensive, real-world research at WMG. This unique initiative not only nurtures academic excellence and cross-cultural learning but also strengthens the pipeline for future research leaders in engineering, manufacturing, and AI."
The future
The WMG–IIT Kharagpur Summer Research Programme is a standout example of how international collaboration in education can shape the next generation of research and innovation leaders. Since 2011, this unique initiative has enabled exceptional students from one of India’s most prestigious engineering institutes to immerse themselves in cutting-edge research at WMG, University of Warwick. Beyond advancing technical knowledge, the programme fosters global perspectives, academic curiosity, and career-shaping mentorship in an environment that blends education with real-world application. Long may this impactful partnership continue to inspire minds, build futures, and strengthen the global research community.
Contact us to explore partnership opportunities with WMG
WMG welcomes new partnerships that advance education, innovation, and global impact. Whether you're exploring joint programmes, research projects or skills initiatives, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us to explore partnership opportunities with WMG and discover how we can work together to create meaningful change.