IIT Roorkee, LPU Join JNU And Jamia In Cutting Ties With Turkish Universities

In a tidal wave of academic disengagement driven by increasing geopolitical tensions, some top Indian universities have suspended or cancelled institutional collaborations with Turkish universities.

On Friday, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee joined the list of institutions cancelling its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Turkey's Inonu University.

In a statement, the institute emphasised its commitment to aligning international collaborations with India's strategic and national interests. The MoU had previously provided a platform for academic cooperation, including joint research initiatives and student and faculty exchange programs.

Lovely Professional University (LPU), one of India’s largest private universities, also took a decisive step by terminating all existing MoUs with institutions in both Turkey and Azerbaijan. According to LPU, the university ended six agreements related to academic exchanges, dual degree programs, and collaborative research, citing national security as its paramount concern.

This wave of disengagement follows similar actions by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Jamia Millia Islamia, and Kanpur University earlier in the week.

Jamia Millia Islamia, in a social media platform X notice, announced the suspension of all MoUs with Turkish institutions "due to national security considerations" effective immediately. JNU also suspended its tie-up with Inonu University, announcing that the university "stands with the Nation." Kanpur University terminated its academic cooperation with Istanbul University, calling Turkey a "strategic ally of Pakistan."

These moves have purportedly been made due to Turkish military aid to Pakistan, including the supply of over 400 drones reportedly utilised in the recent Operation Sindoor — an incident which has incensed academic and student groups nationwide.