On February 24, 2026, the Office of International Affairs, in collaboration with the School of Computing and the School of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at SRM Institute of Science & Technology, Tiruchirappalli, hosted a specialized interaction session titled "Hybrid Intelligence for Mobile Robots and Manipulators." The event, held at 2:00 PM in the 301-Seminar Hall of the SRM IST building, featured Prof. Minoru Sasaki, a distinguished Senior Professor from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Gifu University, Japan, as the resource person. The session focused on the integration of advanced computational intelligence with mechanical systems, specifically addressing the evolving complexities of mobile robotics and robotic manipulators. Prof. Sasaki shared insights into how hybrid intelligence—combining classical control theory with modern AI—can enhance the autonomy, adaptability, and precision of robotic systems in real-world environments. This collaborative exchange between Indian and Japanese academic spheres provided students and faculty with a high-level technical perspective on global trends in robotics, fostering a deeper understanding of cross-disciplinary engineering applications.

The Office of International Affairs at SRM Institute of Science & Technology, Tiruchirappalli, organized a specialized Faculty Development Session on February 12, 2026, titled "Enhancing the Quality and Impact of Research Proposals." Held at the IST 611 venue, the session featured Prof. O. D. Makinde, a Distinguished Professor from the Department of Applied Mathematics & Computations at Stellenbosch University, South Africa, as the resource person. The primary objective of the program was to equip faculty members with the critical skills required to draft competitive research proposals that meet international standards. Prof. Makinde shared extensive insights into the architecture of successful grant applications, emphasizing the need for technical rigor and a clear demonstration of societal impact. Throughout the morning session, Prof. Makinde engaged the faculty in discussions regarding global research trends and the importance of cross-border academic collaborations. He highlighted specific strategies for transforming theoretical concepts into actionable research projects that can attract significant funding and enhance institutional visibility. The event concluded with a focus on practical takeaways, encouraging participants to refine their current research agendas to achieve higher publication quality and greater practical relevance in their respective fields. This initiative underscores the department's ongoing commitment to fostering a robust research culture and professional growth among its academic staff.

The Office of International Affairs, in collaboration with the School of Computing and the School of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at SRM Institute of Science & Technology, Tiruchirappalli, successfully organized a comprehensive 5-day Micro-Credential Course titled "Technology and Practice of 5G/B5G Core Networks." Held from February 23rd to February 27th, 2026, the program ran daily at the Centre for Simulation and Modelling (IST 617). The course was specifically designed to provide faculty and students with advanced technical insights into the architecture and deployment of next-generation telecommunications.  The program featured Prof. Hui-Kai Su, a distinguished Professor and Director of the Computer Centre at the Department of Electrical Engineering, National Formosa University, Taiwan, as the primary resource person. Under his expert guidance, participants explored the practical and theoretical nuances of 5G and Beyond 5G (B5G) systems, bridging the gap between academic research and global industry standards. This international exchange not only enhanced the technical proficiency of the attendees but also aligned with global educational goals, specifically SDG Quality Education and Partnerships for the Goals, fostering a robust environment for future research collaborations between India and Taiwan.

The Office of International Affairs, in a strategic academic collaboration with the School of Computing at SRM Institute of Science & Technology, Tiruchirappalli, successfully hosted an insightful and high-level guest lecture titled "Modern Neural Network Architecture: GNN & ZNN" on 4th February 2026. The event took place at the IST 611 venue on the 6th floor of the SRMIST building, drawing a significant audience of students, researchers, and faculty members eager to explore the frontiers of artificial intelligence. The session was led by the distinguished Dr. Predrag S. Stanimirović, a Professor from the Faculty of Science and Mathematics, Department of Computer Science at the University of Nis, Serbia. Dr. Stanimirović, a renowned expert in computational mathematics, provided a comprehensive deep dive into two specialized and evolving fields of neural modeling.  The core of the lecture focused on the structural intricacies and mathematical foundations of Graph Neural Networks (GNN) and Zeroing Neural Networks (ZNN). Dr. Stanimirović explained how GNNs revolutionize the processing of non-Euclidean data, allowing for sophisticated analysis of relational data such as social networks, molecular structures, and recommendation systems. He further transitioned into the technical complexities of Zeroing Neural Networks (ZNN), emphasizing their unique capability to solve time-varying problems and complex matrix equations in real-time—a critical requirement for advanced robotics and control systems. By bridging the gap between theoretical mathematical models and practical computational applications, the lecture provided the attendees with a rare international perspective on how these architectures are shaping the next generation of AI. This academic exchange not only enriched the technical knowledge of the participants but also fostered a spirit of global research collaboration between the Indian and Serbian academic communities.

The Office of International Affairs, in collaboration with the School of Computing and the School of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at SRM Institute of Science & Technology, Tiruchirappalli, organized a comprehensive international seminar titled "IoT-Driven Green Energy Architectures: Edge Electronics for Sustainable Smart Buildings." The program was meticulously designed to address the increasing global demand for energy-efficient infrastructure by exploring the integration of Internet of Things (IoT) frameworks within modern construction. By focusing on "Edge Electronics," the seminar highlighted a shift from centralized data processing to localized, real-time intelligence, which significantly reduces latency and power consumption in large-scale building management systems.  This interdisciplinary initiative provided a platform for students and faculty to understand the synergy between advanced hardware design and intelligent software, both of which are essential for the next generation of sustainable urban development. The successful implementation of the seminar was also guided by the strategic leadership of the Dean Academics, who ensures that such international exposures are seamlessly integrated into the student learning experience. Furthermore, the academic execution was facilitated by Dr. R. Jagadeesh Kannan, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, whose focus on aligning engineering curricula with emerging industrial trends provided participants with practical, research-oriented insights. The seminar not only enriched the technical knowledge of the attendees but also reinforced to producing engineers capable of solving complex environmental and technological challenges on a global scale.