IIT UG Course To Be Research-Oriented

New Delhi: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) curriculum at the undergraduate (UG) level should be research oriented. It should change from uniform syllabus to system-based curriculum selection, making it research-oriented. The recommendation was made by a high-powered committee under T Ramaswamy, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology.

As per sources, the IIT Council will discuss the report on Friday (i.e. on January 21, 2011). According to the committee course content at the undergraduate level does not inspire students to take up research in India. Its report expresses concern at the low level of IIT undergraduates opting for research and says at least 10-15% of them should be brought to do doctoral research in the next five years.

Moreover, according to the report, at master's and doctoral level, IITs should align the curriculum to meet industrial needs without complications. It says that since master's and doctoral research activities are generally specific to the institutions and range of faculty strength, alignment to suit location specific needs may be more easily realized. It says, suggesting an interactive portal could be established between IITs and industrial chambers. The portal should have problems faced by industries and students may be asked to select research problems for master's and doctoral level research programmes.

Furthermore, the committee has also recommended setting up of a Research Support Technical Cadre. Creation of such a cadre, the report says, will allow IITs to undertake research projects that require continuity. Presently, undergraduate and research students have to provide R&D support. The committee has also said that research councils of nine members be set up for each IIT before the next academic year. In addition, the council will also play an advisory role in selection of research priorities.

Mr Ramaswamy is yet to give the report on reforms in IIT-Joint Entrance Examination. As per sources, the committee is working on a percentile-based scheme to bring all state boards on equality The scheme is based on the percentile-based merit list, formed across all the state boards, for department of science and technology's Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) scholarships that go to the top 1% students (up to 99 percentile). However, IIT faculty members, said that such a scheme is good for an INSPIRE merit list, where the decision is either 'qualified' or 'not-qualified'.