New Delhi, Sep 13 - Many students in Ethiopia are studying engineering and technology in virtual classrooms, some of their teachers seating in the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, which is helping that country become tech-savvy.

The idea to empower Ethiopia's university students was mooted by its ambassador to India and even its prime minister was eager to have an association with IIT-Delhi.

'The Ethiopian government is making a rapid expansions in education but it doesn't have the required infrastructure. The ambassador talked to us and then the process moved. Even their prime minister was very eager for this association,' M. Balakrishnan, dean of post-graduate studies at IIT-Delhi, told IANS Sunday.

'They want to churn out tech-savvy students and here we are playing a role. We have designed four courses for the Addis Ababa University,' said Balakrishnan, who is the key official in this project.

He said two courses - construction technology and management, and chemical engineering - have been taught for a semester. The other two courses - computer engineering and manufacturing engineering - will complete their first semester in a couple of months.

'Initially, we have a four-year agreement with Ethiopia.