THE BEST GETS BETTER
Innovative academic programmes and international linkages keep India’s oldest IIT in numero uno position
The Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur is a unique multi-disciplinary institution that has focused on excellence in its teaching and rsearch and development programmes, producing graduates of international standard. Unlike what is presumed, the institute has programmes ranging beyond basic sciences and technology. It is the first among IITs to start humanities and social sciences, management, law, medical science and technology schools, a science and technology entrepreneurship park, an outreach campus, structured sponsored research programmes, structured outreach programmes and tri-institute academic programmes.
It has varied academic and research units, such as in agriculture, architecture, mining, ocean engineering, naval architecture, rubber
technology, geology and geophysics, happiness, railways research, rural development and engineering entrepreneurship. IIT Kharagpur offers broad-based flexible academic programmes with a specialised dual degree, minors, micro-specialisations, certificate of excellence for postdoctoral research, outreach credits, allowing smooth movement into interdisciplinary programmes. It offers academic programmes jointly with several top institutes with complementary expertise, providing a unique learning experience.
IIT Kharagpur has contributed
immensely to India’s strategic sectors, from defence, space and atomic energy to critical sectors like medical sciences, law, architecture, public and rural development. IIT Kharagpur drives some of the country’s major national programmes, such as GIAN (Global Initiative of Academic Networks), National Digital Library of India (NDLI) and Smart India Hardware Hackathon (SIHH), and helps coordinate others, such as IMPRINT India Initiative, Talk to 10K Teachers and NPTEL (National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning). IIT Kharagpur has been at the forefront in research outcomes from India, both in terms of publications and citations.
It is the combination of academics, campus life and wide range of creativity in various fields that makes studying in IIT Kharagpur a memorable experience.
WHAT STUDENTS CAN EXPECT
For its students, IIT Kharagpur offers academic flexibility through lateral duals, minors, micro-specialisations, micro-credits, flexible curriculum with options for multidisciplinary courses, entrepreneurship break, foreign training programme, joint international practicums, semester away program, field trips and industrial trainings.
Innovation and research is supported by allowing students to participate
IIT KHARAGPUR OFFERS NINE FIVEYEAR INTEGRATED MSC PROGRAMMES, 17 DUAL DEGREE PROGRAMMES, SIX TWO-YEAR JOINT MSC-PHD PROGRAMMES AND 55 POSTGRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMMES
in top international conferences and competitions to enrich themselves and compete with the best in the world.
Another academic feature is through dual and tri-institute collaborative programmes wherein students study in multiple institutes and work in research labs and get a degree from IIT Kharagpur or jointly.
IIT Kharagpur also has some top-class research facilities to enable high quality research. This is an open, inclusive and diverse campus and largest among all IITs—2,100 acres housing 20,000 residents. Students are supported with top-class technical facilities, web-enabled classrooms, virtual learning environment and a central library that is one of the finest and largest of its kind.
The institute is a self-sufficient campus which has 24 halls of residence, high-speed LAN and Wi-Fi and a student activity centre (Technology Students’ Gymkhana). It is a hub of numerous extra-curricular activities that include sports, culture and technology. For most, being on the campus is a life-changing experience.
Apart from programmes with the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), IIT Kharagpur has recently developed centres of excellence in railway research, advanced manufacturing, rural technologies, artificial intelligence, happiness, petroleum engineering, quality and reliability, infrastructure design, science and heritage, solar energy, supercomputing, innovation, entrepreneurship that have attracted national and international collaborations and attention from top institutions in the world.
THRUST AREAS
Besides emphasis on core disciplines, IIT Kharagpur is now concentrating on trans-disciplinary convergence that brings together science, technology, humanities, social sciences, law and management. These include:
* Technology convergence research programmes, namely Advanced Manufacturing Technologies, Affordable Healthcare Technologies, Technologies for Smart Infrastructure Design, Geosciences for the Future of the Earth and Intelligent and Green Transportation Technologies.
* Programmes of horizontal convergence across all disciplines, namely Digital Convergence, Efficient and Alternative Energy, Safety, Security and Reliability, Human Interfaces.
* Social convergence research programmes, namely Signals and Systems in Life Sciences, Future of Cities, Technological Interventions for Food Sustainability, Scientific Approach to Networking and Designing of Heritage Interfaces (SandHI).
THE ROAD AHEAD
Become a multi-disciplinary researchfocused institution covering all disciplines. Reorganise the academic organisational structure to create trans-disciplinary units, featuring academic programmes in higher education at multiple levels, with the flexibility to move between disciplines.
Collaborate with best-in-class institutions to develop dual and/ or joint academic, research and professional programmes to offer students the experience of learning from top institutions in addition to IIT Kharagpur.
Develop strong outreach academic, research consultancy and entrepreneurship programmes through national and international outreach centres-cum-research parks.
To take up mission programmes that help democratise education and research that enables education, technology, empowering information and inputs for action to reach governments and organisations.
OTHER FEATS
The IIT Kharagpur alumni has made landmark contributions in setting up more than a dozen schools, centres and programmes that have made the institute world class.
IIT Kharagpur is setting up a medical hospital and plans to start advanced medical education programmes in collaboration with the best national and international partners.
The Rekhi Centre of Excellence for the Science of Happiness is dedicated towards promoting the well-being of students and addressing stress-related issues faced in organisations.
SandHI and courses on history of science and technology add unique flavours to teaching and research and have drawn interest from top institutions worldwide.
Programmes like the Interna-
tional Summer Winter Programme, Institute Challenge Grants and Gopal Rajgarhia International Programme have enabled the faculty and students to produce world class results and collaborations.
IIT Kharagpur is moving towards a 6.5 MW solar research and utility facility, new sewage water recycling research facility and a solid waste to wealth programme.