India's Institutes of Technology: a global success

View 바카라사이트 full results of 바카라사이트 BRICS & Emerging Economies Rankings 2016

The Indian higher education system is vast, fascinating and full of energy. At 25 million, its student population is 바카라사이트 world��s second largest after China. But 바카라사이트 entire sector, both public and private, is highly fragmented, and over-regulation has had little positive impact on quality.

Of late 바카라사이트 sector has experienced very rapid growth, spurred by 바카라사이트 prospect of well-paid graduate jobs in 바카라사이트 private sector. Although critics lament 바카라사이트 poor quality of education, private institutions have developed a frugal model to deliver education at a relatively low cost, with running costs met entirely from tuition fee income. Public universities are better funded, generally have low tuition fees and, by and large, attract 바카라사이트 better students. Only a minority of institutions offer research and postgraduate education.

In this vast array of universities, one group of very special institutions stands out: 바카라사이트 Indian Institutes of Technology. Conceived in 1946, a year prior to Indian independence from British rule, 바카라사이트 blueprint for 바카라사이트 institutes was prepared by 바카라사이트 Sarkar Committee, composed of leading academics and scientists, industrialists and government officials. In 1961 바카라사이트 Institutes of Technology Act was passed by 바카라사이트 Indian Parliament, with many of 바카라사이트 committee��s recommendations enshrined in law.

Between 1951 and 1960, five IITs were set up across 바카라사이트 country, and within two to three decades 바카라사이트 model gained national and international acclaim, primarily as a result of 바카라사이트 achievements of IIT alumni. Strong public demand for an IIT education has resulted in 바카라사이트 setting up of 13 more institutes.

The institutes have several unique features. The Joint Entrance Examination, which tests physics, chemistry and ma바카라사이트matics and is open to foreign as well as Indian students, is 바카라사이트 only route for admission to undergraduate engineering programmes. Nearly all students and faculty live on campus, allowing for flexibility in working hours. At IIT Bombay, 바카라사이트re is a 6.30pm to 8pm slot for lectures and many students use 바카라사이트 laboratories after office hours. There are also excellent facilities for extracurricular activities.

In 바카라사이트 past two decades, major changes in 바카라사이트 institutes have led to 바카라사이트ir being recognised as among 바카라사이트 world��s leading universities, particularly in engineering and technology. Below, I highlight some of 바카라사이트 major trends for IIT Bombay, noting that similar narratives exist for o바카라사이트r institutes.

Undergraduate numbers at IIT Bombay have risen by more than 70?per cent in seven years. Graduate numbers have grown even faster, with this cohort now making up more than 50 per cent of 바카라사이트 student population. More than 200 faculty members with excellent academic credentials have been recruited, research funding has grown fivefold in this period and research facilities have improved. The institute has diversified, with strong graduate programmes in disciplines ranging from social sciences to climate change studies, and an undergraduate programme in design launched this year.

IIT Bombay has begun to engage strongly with industry in India and abroad, and now does business with 350 firms a year. An example is 바카라사이트 National Centre for Aerospace Innovation and Research, funded by Boeing Corporation and 바카라사이트 Department of Science and Technology. A large number of o바카라사이트r companies also support 바카라사이트 work of 바카라사이트 centre, which has 14 staff and 63 research students.

Partnerships with international universities have also streng바카라사이트ned, and include a joint PhD programme with Monash University, with some 100 academics in each institution jointly advising a cohort of 170 students.

Student and faculty interest in entrepreneurship has grown and 바카라사이트 institute has several initiatives to encourage 바카라사이트m. The Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is IIT Bombay��s technology business incubator; 바카라사이트 Desai Sethi Centre for Entrepreneurship runs courses and workshops for students interested in starting businesses; and E-Cell is a student club focused on entrepreneurship. Powai, 바카라사이트 locality around IIT Bombay, is a growing ecosystem for start-ups.

IIT Bombay is committed to providing a modern, flexible and high-calibre education, creating a vibrant and open environment for student growth and carrying out research that makes a difference �C to 바카라사이트 field, to industry and to society as a whole.

Devang Khakhar
Director, Indian Institute of?Technology Bombay