MOU with IEEE
Prelude: An extraordinary milestone in the international collaboration was achieved on 29th August 2009 in Bangalore when the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE), founded in May 1884 and Computer Society of India (CSI), founded in 1965 entered into an agreement paving the way to encourage the exchange and dissemination of technical information, and to promote understanding and cooperation among members of these nonprofit organizations. As a supplement to the above agreement, the IEEE Computer Society also entered an agreement with the Computer Society of India. The IEEE Computer Society is the world’s leading organization of computing professionals. Founded in 1946, and the largest of the IEEE societies, it is dedicated to advancing the theory and application of computer and information-processing technology. The MoU copies were exchanged by Dr. John Vig, the IEEE President and Prof. H.R. Vishwakarma on behalf of Computer Society of India during the IEEE India Council meeting held on 29th August 2009, Bangalore. Prof. Rangchar Kasturi (IEEE India Initiative Chair), Prof. S. Ramani, Fellow and Past President of CSI, Prof. S. Sadagopan (Director, IIIT-Bangalore and IEEE CS Bangalore Chair), and Mr. Satish Babu (IEEE CS Asia-Pacific Coordinator-CAB) graced the occasion along with and the IEEE India council members present.
The Highlight of MoU
This international collaboration is aimed towards improving technical value content to CSI members. It will provide a unique opportunity of networking among academicians, researchers and professionals at international level. The scope of this understanding includes – preferential membership development, joint technical conferences and standards development, coordination of technical meetings, cooperation in technical publications, continuing education programmes, and sharing of learning resources. The agreement is valid for the period July 2009 to December 2012. The terms and tenure can be amended upon mutual consent of the IEEE and CSI. The IEEE and CSI may, subject to agreement on specific items, enter into joint projects, events, and products such as conferences, forums, publications, history, standards, educational materials, awards, etc. The following are the salient points of the MoU
1. Membership
• A reciprocal 10% discount on the basic membership payments will be allowed on CSI dues and the IEEE CS member fees.
• This discount on the member fee is in addition to the 10% discount on the IEEE basic dues and the IEEE Region 10 Assessment
2. Publication
• Each year CSI may publish in its publications up to 12 papers appearing in IEEE CS periodicals
• Members of the CSI who are not members of the CS may subscribe to CS member optional periodicals at the “sister society” rate.
• CSI may negotiate a “bulk subscription” agreement through which CSI may make a selected IEEE CS periodical available to CSI members
3. Joint Technical Meetings
• Plans and schedules for international conferences and major events will be exchanged between the CSI and IEEE CS.
• To the extent prac t i cal , the consultation/cooperation will take place while organizing a major event in India by the IEEE CS or outside India by the CSI.
• The IEEE CS will consider proposals for "in cooperation" sponsorship of up to two CSI national conferences each year in which the IEEE CS is not a financial cosponsor.
• The CSI and the IEEE CS will seek to form partnerships for the cosponsorship of international technical meetings when practical and in the best interests of both organizations to do so.
• Exchange of presidents' addresses at annual meetings, and organization of conference sessions, i.e., an "IEEE CS track" at the CSI annual conference, will be arranged as opportunities arise.
4. Other Joint Activities
• The CSI and IEEE CS may, subject to agreement on specific items, enter into
• joint projects, events, joint membership development,
• promotion of software engineering certification
• forums, publications, electronic publishing initiatives,
• standards development, educational materials, awards etc.
The Activities and the Roadmap
Soon after the formalization of the MoU, the CSI Chapters and Student Branches were sensitized and requested to take benefit from this agreement by involving IEEE Sections, Chapters and Student Branches across India in CSI programmes and activities. Dr. Anirban Basu, CSI-BC Vice Chair welcomed Prof. Ranagachar Kasturi, Prof. H.R. Vishwakarma, Ms Angela Burgess and senior CSI members and officials present. Prof. Kasturi presented the objectives of IEEE India Initiative and IEEE CS in particular. Prof. Kasturi and Prof Vishwakarma jointly gave an overview of CSI MoU with IEEE (and IEEE CS). Prof. Vishwakarma also briefly presented an action plan based on the inputs/suggestions from the CSI Chapters and senior officials/members across India. Prof. Kasturi presented an overview of IEEE and IEEE Computer Society activities. He also highlighted the mission and activities of IEEE India Initiative since 2008. Subsequently, Prof. Kasturi and Prof. Vishwakarma presented the highlights of the MoU and the roadmap ahead. Prof. R. Srinivasan CSI Fellow & Past CSI President, Mr. Lalit Sawhney, IFIP Vice President & Past President CSI, Prof. Swarnalatha Rao, CSI Division V Chairperson and several senior dignitaries participated in the discussion. The following are the actionable items proposed based on the discussion held inputs/suggestions received from the CSI Chapters and officials agenda items were discussed:
Generic Agenda
• Explore hosting of CSI-BIG, CSI-ConfER, and other on-going CSI National Events in cooperation with IEEE CS
• Joint IEEE-CSI membership drive
• Joint promotion of Software Engineering Certification Programs
• Explore conducting a National Survey on Knowledge and Skill Gaps among New College Graduates of India
IEEE CS Track in CSI 2010
• Dr. Sorel Reisman, 2010 IEEE Computer Society – President consented to CSI Annual Convention (Mumbai, 24-27 Nov 2010)
The Chapters/Student Branches are requested to extend their support for the CSI-IEEE joint activities and programmes. The Chapter/Branch officials and individual members may send e-mail to csi.ieee@ gmail.com for more details and also to join the group (Group email address csi_ieee@ googlegroups.com, Group home page: http://groups.google.co.in/group/csi_ieee)
(L to R – Mr. Satish Babu, Prof. S Sadagopan, Dr. S Ramani, Prof. H R Vishwakarma, Dr. John Vig, and Prof. Rangachar Kasturi)
