For students in India, a new pathway offers the chance to earn two master’s degrees in emerging energy and mobility fields — one started close to home, the other completed at the most innovative university in the U.S. — all in just two years.

Arizona State University and the Vellore Institute of Technology, or VIT, have created a pathway through International Transfer Programmes, or ITP, which allows students to begin their Master of Technology in smart mobility program at VIT and then complete a Master of Science in clean energy systems at ASU. 

The clean energy systems program is offered through The Polytechnic School, part of Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at ASU, and is located on the Polytechnic campus in Mesa, Arizona.

VIT is recognized as one of India’s leading private engineering institutions, with more than 90,000 students across its campuses. Its smart mobility program is very competitive, and the new degree pathway broadens opportunities for talented students, equipping them with additional resources and a global perspective.

VIT Chancellor G. Viswanathan welcomed the launch.

“We are excited to partner with Arizona State University in launching this dual degree program,” he says. “It brings a unique international dimension to our students’ academic journey and enhances their potential to lead in the clean energy revolution.”

Advantages of the partnership

A.M. Kannan, a Fulton Schools professor of engineering and program chair of the clean energy systems program at ASU, is excited to provide students with hands-on research opportunities in Arizona as they complete their second year of graduate school. The Polytechnic School has a heavy emphasis on applied, experiential learning to provide a strong foundation for the students’ growth.

“We have 12 faculty members in our program,” Kannan says. “The robust faculty base we have dedicated to clean energy systems can help students move to the next level.”

The faculty’s expertise spans photovoltaic systems, power electronics for renewable energy integration, electric vehicles, autonomous driving, batteries and much more. That breadth of subject matter expertise will guide students in shaping their research interests and, for some, help create pathways into ASU’s new doctoral program in clean energy systems.

Faculty members in the program also maintain close connections with industry, ensuring students can engage with experts, tackle practical challenges and strengthen their professional development skills.

Providing opportunities for all

During the first year of study at VIT, the curriculum provides a strong foundation in theoretical knowledge. In their second year at ASU, students begin advanced technical training and project-based learning. Ultimately, students will earn two master’s degrees — one from VIT and one from ASU — leaving the program equipped with academic depth, applied experience and international exposure that will set them apart in the field.

The collaboration benefits students, while strengthening the Fulton Schools’ clean energy systems program by expanding research, drawing top international talent and raising the school’s global profile.

Graduates of the program will have advanced knowledge of career pathways in clean energy systems, including at energy technology firms, research institutions and utilities.

They’ll also have the option to pursue Optional Practical Training, or OPT, upon completion of their degree, or continue to the doctoral program.

Looking to a clean energy future

This program offering lays the foundation for future collaborations with other institutions around the world that share ASU’s commitment to advance clean energy systems.

By connecting students in India and the U.S., the collaboration contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of affordable and clean energy, and gives students the skills they need to take on global challenges.

The collaboration also highlights ASU’s role as a global leader in innovation and workforce readiness.

“Arizona State University and Vellore Institute of Technology have a long history in the exchange of ideas,” says Moninder “Holly” Singh, assistant vice president of the ASU International Students and Scholars Center. “ASU has hosted many graduates from VIT and they have gone on to become leaders in all parts of the world.”