Summary of the Terminal Evaluation
I. Outline of the ProjectCountry: The Republic of India

Issues/Sector: Higher Education
Division in Charge:
Natural Technical and Higher Education Team,
Higher Education and Social Security Group, HumanDevelopment Department, JICA
Period of Cooperation:(R/D)
January 2012 – March 2024 (147 months)
Initial plan: January 2012 – March 2020 (99 months)
Counterpart Agency：Institute of Indian
Technology, Hyderabad (IITH)

Project Title：Project for Future Researchers at IITH toEnhance Network Development with Scholarship ofJapan in the Republic of India
Estimated Total Cost: Approx. JPY 2 billion (as ofJanuary 2020)
Initial plan: Approx. JPY 770 million
Cooperation Scheme：Technical Cooperation Project
Related Organizations in Japan:[Academic institution]
University of Tokyo, Hokkaido University, Kyoto
University, Osaka University, Nagoya University,Tohoku University, Kyusyu University, Saitama
University, Shimane University, Waseda University,
Keio University, Yokohama National University,
Shizuoka University and Ritsumeikan University[Industry] Institutions which signs MoU with IITH
Hitachi Zosen Corporation, Isgec Hitachi Zosen Ltd.,
Joining and Welding Research Institute Osaka
University, JFE Steel Corporation, Allied Telesis Labs,NAGOYA ELECTRIC WORKS CO.,LTD., Chaintope,
asahi-kasei.co.jp ・ Asahi kasei Microdevices, KDDIResearch, Inc, Weathernews, NTT Advanced
Technology Corporation (NTT-AT), Toshiba Memory
Corporation, TerraDrone, Takenaka Corporation

1-1. Background of the Project
India is realizing tremendous economic growth in recent years with more than 8% annually. Human resources
particularly in science and technology is key to sustain and accelerate Indian development. Establishment of thefirst Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) at Kharagpur in 1951 made a historical beginning of high-quality
institution of technology, followed by six other IITs, at Bombay, Madras, Kanpur, Delhi, Guwahati and Roorkee.
Encouraged by the success story of IITs, and in order to meet the pressing need of more high-quality graduates,
the Government of India (GOI) has established from 2008-09, eight new IITs, at Hyderabad, Indore,Gandhinagar, Patna, Bhubaneshwar, Jodhpur, Ropar and Mandi with aiming at further socioeconomic
development and meeting expectation from industrial sectors. With the addition of some more IITs after 2014,at present there are 23 IITs.
Based on the commitment in August 2007 between both Prime Ministers of India and Japan, collaboration
between IIT Hyderabad (IITH) and Japan has started. IITH greatly values the assistance for research and studies
in five identified areas (Next Generation Communication Technologies (NGCT), Design and Manufacturing(DM), Sustainable Development (SD), Environment and Energy (EE) and Nano-Technology and Nano-Science(NTNC), the construction of buildings and the procurement of equipment necessary for high-end research.
The Salient Project Report submitted by IITH to the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) andJapan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in July 2010 proposed that, in addition to the ODA (OfficialDevelopment Assistance) Loan, the Government of Japan (GOJ) consider grant assistance of Rs.100 Crores forfaculty members and scholarships for students who pursue joint research in Japanese universities.
Against this background, the application form of the Project was submitted from GOI to GOJ on 23rd September
2011 and the Project started in January 2012.
From February 15 to 29, 2020, JICA dispatched the Terminal Evaluation Team to verify the accomplishmentsof the Project, analyse the Project based on five international evaluation criteria and draw recommendations
for the rest of the project period.
1-2. Project Overview
This Project aims to establish research network between IITH and Japanese academic and industrialviii

partners by developing the human resources for research at IITH through accepting trainees at Japanese
academic and industrial institutions and by strengthening the cooperative relationship between IITH andJapanese partners. Besides, it is expected that this will contribute to promote the leading-edge educationand technology in the field of engineering at IITH.
(1) Overall Goal
Educational and research activities of IITH are further developed through the world-class research network
between IITH and higher education institutions/industrial clusters of Japan, and both IITH and Japanese
universities can establish educational and research excellence in the field of science, technology and engineeringin the future.
(2) Project Purpose
Research network between IITH and first-rate higher education institutions/ industrial clusters of Japan isenhanced through the interaction of human resource in educational and research activities between IITH andJapan.
(3) Outputs
1) IITH graduates who obtained Japanese PhD degree or double degree between IITH and Japanese
Universities contribute to educational and research activities.
2) Interactive relationship between IITH and the first-rate higher education institutions of Japan is established.
3) Interactive relationship between IITH and industrial clusters of Japan is established.
(4) Inputs
1) Japanese Side: (as of January 2020)
a. Long-term experts: 5 experts for a total of 191 months, Scholarship program: 116 grantees
b. Fellowship program: 153 IITH faculty members
c. Dispatch of Japanese faculty members: 119 Japanese faculty members
d. Support programs for IITH graduates before/during the study in Japane. Local operational cost: JPY 176 million
2) Indian Side:f. Office space for Japanese faculties at IITH
g. Placement of faculty and staff: 5 faculty members for the 5 research areas and related managers
h. Venues for the orientation for the participants before visiting JapanII.

Overview of Evaluation TeamDr. Ch. Subrahmanyam

Terminal Evaluation TeamPosition
Affiliation
LeaderDirector of IITH
Professor Civil Engineering, SD in charge and Dean
Evaluation
Planning
Evaluation
Professor, Chemistry, EE in charge and Dean Academic

Dr. Shiv Govind Singh

Evaluation

Dr. S. Surya Kumar

Evaluation

Dr. Kiran Kuchi
Dr. Siva Kumar

Evaluation

Dr. Kyoko Nakano

LeaderMr. Yoshinori Mori

Cooperation
Planning

Ms. Ai Ishitobi

Evaluation
AnalysisName
Dr. B.S. Murty
Dr. Sireesh SarideProfessor, Electrical Engineering, NTNS in charge
Associate Professor, Mechanical & Aerospace
Engineering, DM in charge
Professor, Electrical Engineering, NGCT in charge
Associate Professor, Electrical Engineering, Dean IAR
Senior Advisor (Higher Education), Human
Development Department, JICA
Technical and Higher Education Team, Higher
Education and Social Security Group, Human
Development Department, JICA
Tekizaitekisho LLC Consultantix

Period of Evaluation: February 15, 2020 - February 29, 2020

Type of Evaluation: Terminal Evaluation

III. Results of Evaluation
3-1. Achievements
Output 1 : IITH graduates who obtained Japanese PhD degree or double degree between IITH and Japanese
Universities contribute to educational and research activities.
Through Output 1, the Project successfully advertised the scholarship program and increased the number ofapplicants for the program and its grantees. By the terminal evaluation, 116 IITH graduates received thepostgraduate scholarships in Japan. Japanese supervisors who responded to the questionnaire referred to thepositive impacts on their laboratories or universities by receiving the grantees. Teachers of Japanese universities
which have accepted the grantees referred to the positive impact to their laboratories and university life as awhole by their strong enthusiasm toward new knowledge, technology and study.
Through the questionnaire survey and interviews, IITH faculty members pointed out that joint supervision of
postgraduate students and/or the exchange of postgraduate students would be more effective to further promoteresearch collaboration between IITH and Japanese universities.
Output 2 : Interactive relationship between IITH and the first-rate higher education institutions of Japan isestablished.
Output 2 progressed well. The fellowship program enabled faculty members of IITH and Japanese universities
to establish and strengthen the network among them, which resulted in 7 joint international
conferences/symposium, 10 joint research projects and 72 joint publications (and more to be published in thenear future). Most joint papers were published at high impact journals and more joint papers and research
proposals were under preparation at the time of the terminal evaluation.
Output 3 : Interactive relationship between IITH and industrial clusters of Japan is established.
Through various activities under Outputs 3, the network between IITH and Japanese companies started to beestablished and this resulted in the increased numbers of IITH students who participated in internship programs
at and those who were hired by Japanese companies. The established network with JETRO also contributed tothe achievements. The network led to the research collaborations with industry although the field for thecollaboration is still limited.
Prospects for achieving the Project Purpose:
The Project Purpose is achieved as all indicators are achieved at the time of the terminal evaluation. The statusof indicators to assess the Project Purpose shows that 36 scholarship grantees have obtained a position at aJapanese or Indian academic institution or industry; 88 IITH graduates have obtained a position at a Japanese
academic institution or industry (in Japan, India, or other countries.); 32 MoUs are signed between IITH andJapanese academic institutions; and 15 MoUs are signed between IITH and Japanese industries.
3-2. Evaluation Results by Five (5) Evaluation Criteria(1) Relevance: HighThe relevance of the Project is high as the Project is aligned well with the Indian Education Policy, the Japanese
Assistance Policy to India and the mission of IITH. The approach the Project adopted (“All-Japan Approach”)
was also appropriate and indispensable.
(2) Effectiveness: HighThe effectiveness of the Project is assessed as high since the indicators to assess the Project Purpose were alreadyachieved at the time of the terminal evaluation, as noted above at “Prospects for achieving the Project Purpose”.
Most recommendations made at the Mid-Term Review (MTR) were also well followed up by the terminal
evaluation, except for the one recommendation on the promotion of effective information-sharing among primal
stakeholders since Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) or a stakeholder meeting among prime stakeholders
were held only four times for the past 8 years before the Terminal Evaluation. External factors listed in Project
Design Matrix (PDM) did not affect the Project by the time of the terminal evaluation.
(3) Efficiency: Slightly low
The efficiency of the Project is assessed as relatively high as most inputs (the assignments of JICA longterm experts and IITH faculty members, the scholarship and fellowship programs, a research funding
program called Collaboration Kick-starter Program (CKP), local operational costs and support programsxfor the scholarship grantees) were well utilized to produce the expected outputs. On the other hand, theinterviews with IITH faculty members indicated that the joint supervision of scholarship students and theextension of CKP for three years (two years in this project) would be more efficient to produce furtheroutputs.
As mentioned in the “I. Outline of the Project”, the duration the Project was extended by 4 years from the initialplan. This is owing to the facts that the target number of overseas students was announced at the joint statement
after the India-Japan top-level conference in December 2015 and the expectations from IITH toward the IITH
scholarship students as a pivot of cooperation increased.
The total amount of cost almost tripled from the initial plan, as the necessity of further activation of researchand human resource exchanges between Indian and Japanese industrial and academic institutions was realized.
As it is recognized that every activity caused by these changes had contributed enough to the achievement of theProject Purpose, it can be said that these changes do not damage the efficiency of the Project.
(4) Impact: HighImpact is assessed as high given the status of indicators to assess the achievement of the Overall Goal andpositive impacts of the Projects observed by the terminal evaluation. Additionally, as a part of student
exchange programme between IITH and Japanese universities, partnership with other scholarshipprogrammes, such as JST 4 Sakura Science, JASSO 5 Fellowship Programmes and so on, had beenpromoted to enhance the impact of the Project.
While the Overall Goal was achieved by the terminal evaluation given the status of the relevant indicators, it
should be noted that most indicators (on MoUs and patents) were able to be achieved by the MTR alone andtherefore the Project could have selected more ambitious or different indicators to measure the long-term
outcomes of the Project. There were several positive impacts by the Project such as expanding the network ofIITH and Japanese universities further than India and Japan, increased visibility of IITH in Japan and India,increased visibility of and understanding on Japanese universities, industry and culture at IITH, and positive
impacts in Japanese universities and industries. No negative impact by the Project was observed by the time ofthe terminal evaluation.
(5) Sustainability: Moderate
The sustainability of the Project is assessed as moderate. The sustainability of the Project from policy,
institutional and organizational aspects is high as the Project is in line with the Indian and Japanese policies(political aspects); A number of MoUs with Japanese universities and industries are signed; The active and wellorganized Scholarship Students’ Association (JFSA) is available (institutional aspects); Turnover rate of IITH
faculty members and administrative staff is minimal and the average age of IITH faculty members is young (38years old) (organizational aspect). On the other hand, the sustainability from financial and technical aspects ismoderate. In terms of financial sustainability, although most networks already built by the Project are expected
to continue without further financial inputs, some of them are still at a rudimentary stage and need further
support at least for a few more years to take advantage of the momentum and entrench their networks. With
regard to industry collaboration, promotion of internship and employment in Japan and the network already built
are likely to continue without further support, while expanding the network to a wide variety of research fields
is less likely to be promoted without further inputs.
3-3. Major supporting factors to achieve the Project Purpose
1) Factors related to planning
Student exchange funded by other funding schemes contributed to better educational outcomes atJapanese host universities by the fact that discussion opportunities in English increased and morenumber of Japanese students were inspired by Indian students with high abilities.
2) Factors related to implementation
Long-term or existing relationships between some IITH and Japanese faculty members before theProject or CKP started assisted them in smooth collaboration based on the established trust.
JFSA voluntarily provided scholarship grantees with support and information they need and connected
them with JICA if necessary. Some interviewees pointed out that this is likely to have contributed tothe increase in the number of applications for the scholarship and employment in Japanese companies
45

Japan Science and Technology Agency
Japan Student Support Organizationxiand the prevention of dropouts.
3-4. Major Factors that Hampered the Achievement of the Project Purpose
1) Factors related to planning
Nothing in particular.
2) Factors Related to Implementation
Nothing in particular.
3-5. Conclusion
In sum, the Project produced a number of excellent achievements for the past 8 years. The foundation to connect
between IITH and Japanese universities and industries was established. By the terminal evaluation, 116 IITH
graduates received higher education opportunities and 33 of them already worked in Japanese universities andindustries. The establishment of networks between IITH and Japanese universities and industries resulted in thesigning of 56 MoUs, 72 joint publications (often at high impact journals), the attainment of research funds
including two large scale ones, and the increased number of students who obtained internship and/or employment
opportunities at Japanese companies. While research collaboration with industry started, the collaboration is still
limited to a certain field however.
In terms of evaluation by the five OECD criteria, the relevance of the Project is high as it is aligned well with
Indian and Japanese policies and the needs of IITH and the project approach was also appropriate. Effectivenessof the Project is high as the project purpose was achieved by the time of the terminal evaluation. Efficiency isslightly low as most inputs were well utilized to produce expected outputs. Impact of the Project is high given
the achievements of the overall goal and several positive impacts observed by the Project. Sustainability ismoderate while the sustainability of the Project in terms of political, institutional and organizational aspects ishigh, the sustainability of financial and technical aspects is moderate.
3-6. Recommendations
Based on the results of the evaluation above, the Team makes the following recommendations to IITH andJICA/the Project Team for the better achievements of the Project:1)

Continue collaboration to sustain the momentum built by the Project

While the Project laid the groundwork to establish and enhance the networks between IITH and Japanese
academic institutions and industry, some of them are still at a rudimentary stage and need further support at least
for a few more years to take advantage of the momentum and entrench their networks. Especially researchcollaboration with industry is still limited. Continuous support for the scholarship grantees is also important forthe program to have extended, long-lasting impacts on both Japan and India. Therefore, IITH, JICA and Japanese
academic institutions and industries are recommended to continuously support further collaboration amongthem.
2)

Assign human resources to maintain and strengthen the research network

Although the scholarship component will continue until 2024, most activities will end in March 2020 and thecontract of a long-term expert at IITH will be expired in September 2020.
IITH already plans to establish a separate unit to handle Japan-related activities and assign dedicated staff for
the unit. This is important to continue project-related activities (e.g. advertisement of other scholarship,
fellowship, research funding schemes) and maintain the network. Therefore, IITH is recommended to set up theunit before September 2020.
3) Develop a database of faculty members involved in the Project to promote Indo-Japan collaborations
There were voices from both India and Japan recommending to develop a database on faculty members of bothsides to further promote collaboration. Therefore, it is recommended for the Project to develop a database offaculty members involved in the Project before the Project ends.
4) Provide supports to the JICA FRIENDSHIP Scholars’ Association
The contribution of the association is paramount in terms of preventing dropouts, assisting their job-hunting inJapan, and sustaining the network among them and between IITH and Japanese universities. In order for thescholarship program to have significant and long-lasting impacts on India and Japan, the grantees need to bexii

supported till, and even after, they obtain a position in academia or industry. Therefore, IITH is stronglyrecommended to fully support the association and provide necessary inputs. JICA is also recommended to closely
work with the association for further collaboration.
3-7. Lessons learned(1) The regular review of a consortium member
The consortium provides an opportunity for various stakeholders to discuss the Project for better outcomes.
Given the scale of the Project, their supports were indispensable to achieve its goal. In that sense, better
utilization of this opportunity is important such as the regular review of consortium members to invite
stakeholders who are more active and interested in Indo-Japan collaboration to further promote it.
(2) The regular implementation of the JCC and the assignment of a project leader
The needs of counterparts which were repeatedly expressed through the questionnaire survey and interviews
indicate that it would be better if there would have been a regular opportunity to directly discuss such needs
and challenges of both sides and reflect them into the project design if necessary and possible. In addition,
given the scale of the Project and in order to strategically implement the Project and communicate withvarious stakeholders, it would have been ideal to assign a project leader.
(3) Effectiveness of Joint supervision program
Rather than just providing postgraduate scholarships in Japanese universities, joint supervision ofpostgraduate students by both sending and hosting universities is highly likely to contribute more tostrengthening relationships between the two universities. Exchange of post-graduate and PhD students forbrief periods of 3-6 months, including the utilization of other financial resources could have enhanced theeffectiveness of the collaboration.

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