IIT Delhi will launch new curriculum next year; sees 5% drop in BTech placements

NEW DELHI: A total of 2,600 students are graduating from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi this year, said the institute’s director professor Rangan Banerjee while addressing an event today. The graduands comprise a large number of PhD scholars and as many as 200 female students. Among the students who received their degrees were the very first batches of two new IIT Delhi programmes – BTech Computation and Mechanics and Material Engineering.

Talking about the accomplishments of the IIT, the director said that two of the institute’s largest academic buildings have been added this year to the overall infrastructure resulting in the largest academic space increase in the campus.

IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi campus

A new off-shore campus was launched in Abu Dhabi. Starting in February this year, the IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi campus started functioning with an MTech programme in energy transition and sustainability. The first batch of students included 19 United Arab Emirates (UAE) aspirants.

Recently, the IIT Delhi international campus announced two new BTech programmes in computer science and energy engineering along with an entrance exam, Combined Admission Entrance Test (CAET) for UAE candidates. The first batches of the undergraduate programmes will commence in the upcoming academic year with 30 students each.

The IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi admissions will be divided into three categories, wherein, 20 Emiratis will be admitted through the entrance exam and 10 through the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced. The overseas campus admissions will be conducted on a separate admission portal than JoSAA.

Shantanu Roy, director in-charge, Abu Dhabi campus, said that all JEE seats have been filled this year and 18 different boards operate in the UAE campus.

Student suicides, exit from course

Commenting on the issue of student suicides, the head of the institute said that they increased student counselling sessions, created academic progress groups, conducted external review through mental health professionals. A committee formed by the institute will look into the campus environment, he added.

The professor explained that the academic progress group is a faculty based group, including study plan, semester-wise meeting with teachers, and course coordinators. It aims to strengthen student mentorship programmes.

Moreover, less than 10 BTech students took an early exit this year, Banerjee said and denied removal of the termination policy.

While there is no plan on a sports quota, the senate on the other hand has agreed to provide flexibility in the grading system for students. Among the initiatives taken by the IITD are Rs 200 crores of funding for research work, unique sports meet for special students in the National Capital Region (NCR).

IIT Delhi placements

While the number of internship offers received by IIT Delhi students increased from last year’s 700 to 740 this year, the institute witnessed a 5 percent drop in the BTech placements. A total of 1,940 students participated in the IIT Delhi placements 2024.

The IIT is also addressing the issue of PhD placements, as per the director. There has been a 10% increase in PhD students, however, only 1% were placed.

The institute will introduce a new course curriculum in the next academic year. “AI and healthcare is one of our focus areas. We have a proposal to look at AI healthcare clinics,” the director said. Guidelines are also being set, he added.