Mumbai: The IIT-Bombay is planning to introduce undergraduate course in economics and designs, from the ensuing session 2014-15. Prof Devang Khakhar, director of IIT-Bombay, has informed that the proposal regarding the introduction of these undergraduate courses will be placed in the senate for its approval. The main objective behind introducing such undergraduate course is to meet their enormous demand, particularly in the commercial capital.
However, the details regarding the eligibility criteria, enrolment process and the total number of seats for economics course are yet to be finalised. Prof Khakhar has mentioned that discussions are on whether it should be a four-year undergraduate course or a five-year integrated PG course. He also added, that the institute don’t have to create new infrastructure and faculty as it already has a humanities department which offers many short-term courses.
Presently, IIT Bombay offers only postgraduate courses in design. However, IIT Bombay is all set to introduce the four-year B Design course. According to a statement issued by Prof Gaur Gopal Ray, head of the industrial design centre at IIT Bombay, the course is highly in demand among students as well in the industry. He mentioned that an IIT course would definitely have an edge.
As per sources, the syllabus for the course is prepared. Later this month, committee of IIT-B, IIT Delhi, IITK and ISc Bangalore will meet in order to contemplate a proposal for the inclusion of a separate paper of Design at JEE (Advanced) to test the skills of the students. JEE (Advanced) is the second phase of the ‘One India One Test” (JEE) conducted by IIT for admission in their undergraduate courses.
Among all IITs, IIT Guwahati is the only one which offers B Des course and students are selected on the basis of their performance in the JEE test. In addition, Mr Ray has mentioned that according to an observation by IIT Guwahati, some students take the course only because they failed to get the admission into their desired engineering courses. Therefore, they are evaluating a separate exam in order to offer opportunities to those candidates who really aspire to get admission and make career in design.
