BEST upskilling at NITW soon; MoU signed with Bajaj Auto Ltd

The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Warangal has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Bajaj Auto Ltd. to set up a Bajaj Engineering Skill Training (BEST) Centre on its campus in Hanamkonda. Funded with ₹13 crore from Bajaj Auto’s CSR initiative, NIT Warangal becomes the first Centrally-funded technical institution (CFTI) to partner on this project. The lab is expected to be ready by December this year, or by next June at the latest.

The MoU was signed on Friday by NIT Warangal director Bidyadhar Subudhi and Bajaj Auto vice-president Sudhakar Gudipati.

Officials said the BEST Centre is aimed at bridging the gap between academic learning and industry needs by helping engineering graduates upskill and improve employability. It is envisioned as a hub for innovation, training and applied research, with the potential to serve as a model for skill development across India.

The programme is structured around six key verticals in advanced technologies. In its first phase, NIT Warangal will launch two verticals — Firmware Development and E-Mobility — both crucial to the future of electronics and electrical engineering.

Mr.Subudhi said NIT Warangal is the first among all NITs in India to start this programme. He added that BEST has already been integrated into the existing B.Tech programmes in ECE and Electrical Engineering. Students enrolled in these programmes will receive joint certification from Bajaj Auto Ltd. and NIT-Warangal, adding significant industry recognition alongside their NIT degree. Importantly, all equipment and laboratory infrastructure required for these specialised verticals will be fully sponsored by Bajaj Auto Ltd., ensuring that students have access to state-of-the-art facilities for practical and immersive learning.

Head of BEST, T. Kishore Kumar was present.