International Collaboration: LSUS Offers Dual Master’s Degrees with IITRAM

LSUS and IITRAM Team Up for Innovative Dual Degree Pathway

Louisiana State University Shreveport is a public university that offers various undergraduate programs, master's programs, and a Doctorate of Education in Leadership Studies.LSU has formed a cooperative agreement with the Institute of Infrastructure, Technology, Research and Management in Ahmedabad, allowing Indian students to pursue dual master’s degrees. The students will get a chance to earn both a Master of Business Administration from their institution and a Master of Science in Computer Systems Technology with a focus on business administration from LSUS.

In this coursework, four courses from LSUS's online MBA program will be integrated into IITRAM's curriculum. Indian students will travel to Shreveport to complete the in-person requirements for the computer science master's program, fostering both academic and cultural exchanges on the LSUS campus. This dual degree program is designed to be completed in an accelerated time frame of two to three years.

Leaders from both LSU and IITRAM signed the initial memorandum of understanding virtually. LSUS Chancellor Robert Smith expressed excitement about welcoming Indian students to their campus and emphasized the uniqueness of the agreement, highlighting its innovative nature and forward-thinking approach. Students would earn two distinct master’s degrees from two universities in different countries on separate continents.

The Indian students are expected to arrive at the LSUS campus starting in 2026. M.K. Barua, the director general of IITRAM, remarked that while many memorandums of understanding remain purely theoretical, the dual degree initiative represents over two years of collaborative work between faculty from both institutions to design the curriculum. He also expressed eagerness to pursue collaborative research and projects, as well as explore additional partnership opportunities.

This collaboration will facilitate a student-teacher exchange program that allows Indian students to qualify for three years of post-completion work experience in the United States after earning their dual degrees. Additionally, it will create opportunities for LSUS students and faculty to study and teach in India. Helen Taylor, the provost at LSUS, noted that students from both universities would gain valuable exposure to diverse ideas through this collaboration. Being India’s fifth-most populous city Ahmedabad is a home of nearly 5.6 million people, which positions it as a major urban center comparable to New York City in the U.S. Students get the chance to connect with faculties and peers from different countries which enrich their education by exposing them to various cultures and global viewpoints.

Axaykumar Mehta, the dean of academics at IITRAM, highlighted the value of studying abroad at a U.S. university, describing it as an excellent opportunity for students to learn about business and computer science principles. The partnership between LSUS and IITRAM developed after Subhajit Chakrabarty and Sanjay Menon made several visits to Indian campuses in 2022. During these visits, they met IITRAM economics professor Pravin Jadhav, who helped initiate the relationship.

The dual degree program with IITRAM is LSUS’s first partnership with an Indian university, though LSUS already has agreements with six other Indian universities and one in Bangladesh, developed through Zoom meetings by Chakrabarty and Menon in 2020. This fall, five students from these institutions enrolled in LSUS’s computer systems technology master’s program, to attract more students to meet the increasing demand for computer science professionals in the U.S.

Editor's Note:

Louisiana State University Shreveport Collaborated with the Institute of Infrastructure, Technology, Research and Management (IITRAM) in Ahmedabad, India. This innovative partnership opens doors for Indian students to earn a Master of Business Administration alongside a Master of Science in Computer Systems Technology, enhancing their academic and cultural experiences. This program is aimed to provide international education to Indian students and also prepare them for a global workforce. With the signing of this agreement, LSUS continues to expand its international reach, building on existing relationships with multiple Indian universities. 

Skoobuzz congratulates LSU Shreveport and IITRAM on their new partnership. This collaboration is set to enhance global education opportunities, allowing Indian students to fulfill their dream of earning a degree from a foreign university.