Tata Chemicals signed an MoU with Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, with the objective of fostering collaboration between the two institutions to promote academic and research interactions.

BITS would operate an off-campus centre at Babrala and run educational programmes to meet the human resources development needs of TCL leading to specific degrees of BITS through its off-campus work-integrated learning programmes. These programmes will have the same rigour and standards as those offered on-campus, and will be equivalent to the corresponding degrees offered on-campus.

Said Kapil Mehan, executive vice president, crop nutrition and agri business, TCL, "The educational programmes conducted under this collaborative arrangement will offer the employees of TCL an opportunity to enhance their academic qualification, synergise theory and practice on a sustained basis, be multi-skilled with exposure to upcoming technological areas, appreciate key management concepts and participate better in organisational initiatives. This will also help them improve their perspective and provide meaningful insights."

TCL would make available the necessary infrastructural facilities (such as classrooms with necessary equipment, library facilities, computer and communication facilities with access to electronic mail and internet) for the smooth and effective conduct of the educational programmes. TCL would also actively provide corporate support and enable identified resource persons of TCL to participate in the pedagogic aspects of the programme, wherever necessary.

The employees of TCL admitted to the BITS programmes under this collaborative arrangement will be treated as BITS students and will be governed by the fee structure and academic regulations of BITS and also by the service rules and regulations specified by TCL. TCL would endeavor to make available the necessary facilities for the implementation of the Practice School Program of BITS after discussions between the two institutions.

A coordination committee consisting of vice-chancellor, BITS as chairman, and two nominees each from TCL and BITS would plan, coordinate and monitor the academic and research programmes as well as all related operational matters within the framework of the academic regulations of BITS and the objectives outlined by TCL.