IIT Kanpur Suicides: Students protest, demand changes in PhD, MSc thesis review

NEW DELHI: The students of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Kanpur) staged a protest on its campus following the death of a PhD students by suicide yesterday. The students demanded sweeping changes for reviewing research thesis during PhD and masters programmes in IIT Kanpur.

The students asked for revamping the current faculty feedback system. They called-for “mutual accountability, transparency in the implications of SRS methodology and improved communication for student trust”. The students also proposed establishment of a ‘master's monitoring committee’ ( MMC) on the lines of IIT Kanpur doctoral monitoring committee.

The students have also asked the IIT Kanpur administration to conduct faculty sensitisation sessions through an external organisation twice every semester. The participation in the sessions should be mandatory, the added.

IITK senate discusses 3 suicides

The decision to hold the protest was taken during the IIT Kanpur students’ senate meeting held last night. The emergency meeting of the senate was called after three students died by suicide in last 30 days. The senate asked the IIT Kanpur student’s body to focus on a "holistic discussion on all aspects of students well-being and all round wellness on the campus”. The meeting was held following the IIT Kanpur administration’s response last week.

Students discussed the unsatisfactory responses by the institute administration regarding every effort to rectify the problems. Concerns about incompetence of various redressal bodies in recognising and resolving student issues, and their limited power were raised.

Also read IIT Kanpur PhD student dies by suicide; second death in January

Limited power with redressal bodies

Several students raised concern over inadequate student representation within the redressal bodies. This contributes to insensitivity towards students’ issues, they added. The issue of lack of accountability of the redressal bodies was also raised. The students called for increased transparency and responsiveness of these bodies.

The students also discussed the “significant power gap” between students and professors, whether in administrative roles or as research supervisors. “PhD students emphasised that their supervisors had immense unchecked influence over their campus lives, without any reliable accountability mechanism,” IIT Kanpur students’ senate said.

Accountability of supervisors

Several students said the accountability for academic setbacks predominantly falls on students, with advisors and the institute bearing no responsibility. “Professors hold the authority to fail thesis credits of students without offering any explanation. As a result students are hesitant to question their supervisors due to the fear of straining the relationship, risking the future career scope, wasted years and having to start afresh,” the students added.

Concerns were also raised regarding the financial challenges which the research students have to face as the current stipend structure doesn’t is not enough for five years.

The senate also discussed the inadequate representation of students in addressing their concerns. “Instances were shared where the departmental postgraduate committee (DPGC) nominees were reportedly excluded from meetings discussing student terminations, being informed only after decisions were made,” the body said.

Also read ‘System let him die’: IIT Kanpur MTech student was depressed due to low grades, unemployment

IIT Kanpur students’ demands

The students have asked for these changes during the IIT Kanpur students’ senate body meeting:

• DMC should conduct evaluation twice per semester. It should take into account (S/X) grades, along with guidelines to prevent X grades
• Formation of an ombuds committee comprising students and faculties. It should be chaired by the external director general-level officer
• Appointment of an external co-guide, based on research domains, so that the students don’t have to face issues if the supervisor is changed
• An optional MSR degree exit option for PhD students with tangible thesis completion till the ninth semester
• Thesis supervisor to be held accountable for thesis exceeding five-year, along with providing reasoning to the DMC along with an estimated new deadline
• Reinstatement of all the terminated students with immediate effect
• Introduction to an’ institute compulsory course on mental well-being and mutual care’ in the first-year. The course should be conducted in smaller groups.
• Therapy sessions charges to be reimbursed through the medical insurance and inclusion of more trained and experienced counsellors in the institute counselling Service.

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