IIT Roorkee joins JNU, Jamia, Kanpur in cancelling ties with Turkish varsities

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee has formally terminated its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Inonu University in Turkey. The previously cancelled agreement permitted collaboration in research and academics, such as student and faculty exchange programmes.

In a public announcement, IIT Roorkee said that its global connections will remain in line with India's academic strategy and national priorities.

As much as the institution favours international research collaboration, it made it clear that any such collaborations have to be within the country's overall research objectives.

JNU, JAMIA MILIA AND NOW IIT ROORKEE

Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Punjab terminated all six of its MoUs with institutions in Turkiye and Azerbaijan. The university added that the decision was made after it went over the recent geopolitical developments, which it described as not being in India's interest.

Jawaharlal



Nehru University (JNU) too suspended its academic cooperation with Inonu University earlier this week. That MoU, which was signed in February this year, was intended to enhance student exchanges and collaborative research in cultural studies.

JNU used security issues as the grounds to suspend the alliance. In a tweet posted on X (formerly Twitter), the university announced the agreement will continue to be on hold "until further notice" and restated its stance to "stand with the Nation.

These developments were followed by Jamia Millia Islamia, and it halted all academic collaborations with Turkish government-connected universities.

Yesterday, Kanpur University also cancelled all its agreements with a Turkish university, citing concerns over national security and integrity.

These institutions have stated that though international academic collaboration is essential, future collaborations will have to be in line with India's interests and security concerns.