The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) has launched its first academic programme at the Sonipat campus, marking a significant step in expanding the institute’s academic activities beyond its main campus. The new programme is a one-year Postgraduate Diploma in Solar Systems and Management, focused on developing skilled professionals in solar energy and renewable-energy technologies.
The inaugural batch began on September 3, 2026, with nine international fellows representing eight countries. The programme is being offered by IIT Delhi’s Department of Energy Science and Engineering (DESE) in collaboration with the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and France’s Institut National de l’Énergie Solaire (INES). The programme is sponsored by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
Focus on Practical Solar-Energy Training
Unlike a programme focused mainly on classroom learning, the diploma has been designed around hands-on training in solar technologies and their applications. Participants will learn from IIT Delhi faculty members, industry professionals and other specialists, gaining practical knowledge that can be applied to real-world renewable-energy projects.
The programme is part of a broader effort to strengthen solar-energy skills and institutional capacity across International Solar Alliance member countries. IIT Delhi and ISA intend to develop participants into skilled trainers who can contribute to Solar Technology and Application Resource Centres (STAR-C) in their respective countries. The initiative is aimed at supporting the expansion of solar-energy deployment and developing a stronger global clean-energy workforce.
International Internship Opportunity
An important feature of the programme is the international practical-training component. After successfully completing the postgraduate diploma at IIT Delhi, the ISA fellows will undertake a one-month internship in Europe, focusing on applied solar technologies. They will subsequently be assigned to STAR-C centres in their home countries, where they can use their newly acquired expertise to support solar-energy training and development.
The programme builds on the ongoing collaboration between IIT Delhi and the International Solar Alliance in renewable-energy education and capacity building. The partnership has previously supported postgraduate-level training for professionals from developing countries and is now expanding into a Train-the-Trainers model designed to create a wider network of solar-energy experts.
IIT Delhi has also indicated that more academic programmes are expected to be introduced at the Sonipat campus in the coming years, strengthening the campus’s role in advanced education, research and innovation.
