Dharmashastra National Law University (DNLU), Jabalpur, known for its dedication to academic excellence and holistic development, has taken a significant step forward in enhancing its academic standards through a new collaboration. DNLU inks a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with PDPM Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design and Manufacturing (IIITDM) on June 27, 2024, at a ceremony held at IIITDM campus in Jabalpur.
Established in year 2018 under the Madhya Pradesh Dharmashastra National Law University Act, 2018, DNLU aims to advance legal education and uphold the rule of law as per the Indian Constitution. It is guided by Judge of Supreme Court of India Justice J.K. Maheshwari as its Visitor, Acting Chief Justice of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh Justice Sheel Nagu as its Chancellor, and Prof. (Dr.) Manoj Sinha as its Vice-Chancellor, DNLU offers B.A. LL.B. (Hons.), LL.M., and Ph.D. programs.
On the other hand, the PDPM Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design and Manufacturing (IIITDM) Jabalpur, established in 2005 under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, focuses on Information Technology, Design, and Manufacturing. It aims to enhance competitiveness in Indian products globally and serves as an interdisciplinary institution promoting education and research, with a focus on Product Lifecycle Management. Prof. Bhartendu K. Singh serves as the Director at IIITDM, Jabalpur. Prior to joining IIITDM Prof. Singh has served as a Professor at Banaras Hindu University.
The MoU marks a momentous collaboration aimed at fostering knowledge exchange and mutual support between the institutions. Both the Head of Institutes Prof. Dr. Manoj Kumar Sinha, and Prof. Bhartendu K Singh, signed the MoU. The signing ceremony was also attended by Registrar DNLU Shri. Shailesh N. Hadli and Senior Faculty Members for IIITDM including Prof. Pritee Khanna, Dr. Dip Prakash Samajdar, Prof. Aparajita Ojha, Prof. Puneet Tandon, Prof. Tanuja Sheorey, Prof. Prabin Kumar Padhy, Prof. Sanjeev Narayan Sharma, and Shri Rizwan Ahmed, Acting Registrar.
Prof. Sinha expressed gratitude for the partnership, highlighting the enduring benefits it would bring to both institutions. He emphasized the importance of collective efforts between DNLU and IIITDM in fostering growth and knowledge sharing in law and technology. Prof. Sinha also stressed the significance of aligning with the National Multidisciplinary Education Policy, emphasizing mutual benefits through faculty and student exchanges in both disciplines.
Prof. Singh affirmed IIITDM's commitment to leveraging the partnership for mutual benefit, emphasizing its potential to strengthen academia and advance joint efforts in information technology and legal education. He further elaborated on the MoU's significance in fostering innovative solutions for technological developments and legal challenges. Prof. Singh emphasized the initiation of joint courses with a credit-sharing policy to provide a common learning platform on topics like cyber law, artificial intelligence, and machine law.
DNLU is the first among Indian law schools to collaborate with a technology institute, marking a milestone in legal education. The collaboration is expected to greatly benefit students and faculty from both institutions by providing opportunities to learn from leading experts, collaborate on cutting-edge research, and gain exposure to diverse systems. Together, DNLU and IIITDM aim to launch joint initiatives in research and development, thereby advancing their academic pursuits and contributing to the broader educational landscape.