Efforts on to take IIT-Mandi on global map, says Director

Tribune News Service

Mandi, February 12

Director of IIT-Mandi Timothy A Gonsalves said the IIT had progressed rapidly in the last 10 years with many firsts and pioneering initiatives in engineering education, research and development (R&D), societal impact and international collaborations.

“In 2010, IIT-Mandi adopted a strategy of working on research directed to solving major challenges of the Himalayan region and India. We crafted a unique project-based learning approach and a collaborative inter-disciplinary culture. These factors enabled our exceptionally talented and dedicated faculty and students to crack challenging societal and academic problems,” he added.

The Director stated that efforts would be on to take the institute at global map to attract foreign students and provide technology-based solutions to the problems of society.

He said in 10 years, the IIT had developed the state-of-the-art infrastructure with a built-up area of 1.40 lakh sqmt comprising housing for more than 1,600 students, 125 faculty and 61 staff members, cutting-edge laboratories, libraries, sports facilities and facilities for sports and extra-curricular activities.

The institute is on track towards completing 2.16 lakh sqmt of construction by early 2021 to provide housing for 2,580 students and 200 faculty, plus staff members,” he added.

The IIT had grown to host 1,655 students, including 750 BTech, 179 MSc, 257 MTech, 24 MA, 361 PhD, 66 MS and 18 PhD. The institute achieved the target of female enrolment in undergraduate courses by admitting 20.22 per cent students to BTech programme in 2019-20.

“To cater to the growing needs of the industry and aspirations of students, the IIT has introduced several specialised programmes. The institute is offering BTech programmes in seven disciplines and masters in 11 disciplines, in additional to doctoral programmes in science, engineering and humanities and social sciences. In 2019, the institute became the first IIT to introduce a full-fledged BTech degree in data science and engineering which emphasises the integration of theory and practice,” he said.

In the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), IIT-Mandi improved its position by jumping up six positions in the engineering category in 2019, compared to the preceding year. The institute was ranked 20th in the engineering category in the NIRF 2019 compared to 26th in 2018 and 28th in 2017.

The IIT has been ranked 1st in the overall category in Himachal in the NIRF 2017, NIRF 2019 and was 1st in Himachal in the engineering category every year since the NIRF started.

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