Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN) Scheme

The full form of GIAN project is Global Initiative of Academic Networks. The scheme was launched at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Gandhinagar by Union Human Resource and Development Minister, Smriti Irani in the year 2014, to improve the quality of higher education in the country. This program was first launched to promote collaboration between India and the United States of America, but later, the scope of the program was extended. The colleges which are under this program are the IITs, IIMs, NITs, and other ‘A’ grade central universities.

About GIAN Scheme

• The program makes ‘Vasudev Kutumbakam’ a reality.
• The program is related to development in promoting the higher education of India.
• The program will create a platform which will enable the students to interact with faculty with best academic and industrial experts.
• It will make international academicians participate in Indian Institutions for the purpose of providing short term courses and programs in the country.
• According to this scheme, 32 disciplines will be covered by the academicians, and 352 courses will also be thought in around 68 national institutions.
• Under this project, in the beginning, 500 faculties will be engaged in providing knowledge and later this number of will increase to 1000 faculties.
• The duration of the course will be different for different courses depending on the nature of the course. The minimum duration is of one week, and the maximum duration is for three weeks.
• These courses will be taught for free to those students who are a part of host institutions and will be taught to others at a very normal fee.
• IIT Kanpur has also designed a web portal www.gian.iitkgp.ac.in for the purpose of webcasting live courses for the students all over India.

Aims of GIAN Program

The following are the aims of the program:

• The program wants to attract the most talented scientist and entrepreneurs to engage with the institutes that provide higher education in India to push the current academic resources available in the country.
• The program will speed up the pace of quality reforms in the education system of India.
• The program will strengthen the scientific and technological capabilities of the country.

Objectives of the GIAN Scheme

• The program wants to attract more reputed international faculties to Indian Institutions.
• It will give the opportunity to the indigenous faculties to learn and share their knowledge by teaching and applying their skills in cutting edge areas to get knowledge and experience from various reputed international faculties. The students must take the most from these international faculties.
• The program also promotes collaboration with various international institutions for the purpose of research in various fields.
• With this program, the government wants to encourage the participation of international students in Indian Institutions.
• It allows the students of various colleges and universities to interact with each other to learn various subjects in collaborating with each other.
• Those who are engaged in technical industries will be provided with opportunities to improve their knowledge and skills which are associated with the field in which they work.
• To encourage the best international experts in the world to provide solutions for various problems in India.
• The program wants to develop rich and quality material in the targeted area. The materials could be in different forms, including print and videos, which could teach both the students and the teachers.
• To search for new methods for solving issues that are of national and international interests.