IIT Kharagpur has been recommended by the University Grants Commission for Institution of Eminence

NEW DELHI, August 3: IIT Kharagpur has been recommended by the University Grants Commission for Institution of Eminence (IoE). In a recent announcement, UGC released a list of 20 public and private higher educational institutes which have been recommended for IoE status. IIT Kharagpur in its proposal for IoE last year has harped on areas which are crucial for institutions of the stature of IITs while they compete with top universities across the globe.

The proposal focuses on setting up areas of excellence in technology and social convergence domains and mission programs to touch the lives of millions of people. These include several thematic areas of innovative research which will lead to the opening of new avenues and enhance cutting edge research activities. These are in the areas of Advanced Manufacturing, Health care, Food security amongst several others.

Emphasis has also been given on reorganisation and restructuring of academic programs through several measures. Focus is on multi-institutional collaborative programs in India and abroad, creating academic pathways for multi-specialization and diversity, flexible inter and trans-disciplinary programs and new PhD and post PhD programs to enhance research talent pool. New credit-based outreach programs, Micro-Specializations have also been included. The Institute has further scaled up nationwide initiatives like National Digital Library of India, National AI Platform, Rural Technology Action Group, Global Initiative of Academic Networks.

While IoE focuses on making a strong presence in global academia to enhance research and improve institutional ranking, IIT Kharagpur has given special emphasis on internationalization and hiring of quality manpower. Various collaborative programs with foreign universities have been set up including dual and joint degree programs, joint centres, international project bids and funding programs for foreign students including research students and visiting foreign faculty. Similar programs are also being designed for best-in-class partners on the domestic front.

Another key area addressed in the proposal is the restructuring of the institutional system for effective governance and a robust administrative structure.

IIT Kharagpur which was set up in in 1951 has evolved since the 1950s in academics and research as well as governance. The motto of the Institute from its inception was sustaining excellence through its action has taken various initiatives to keep up to Tier-I peers across the globe. The Institute has been developing the academic complex facility, super-speciality hospital, supercomputing facility, solar farm, research park etc. towards this goal. Further, the infrastructure at the hostels, campus housing and other amenities are also been augmented to have a world-class ambience.

The Institute has planned to enhance outreach activities through the creation of outreach centres at various locations in India. Several outreach programmes are in the offing through different centres of excellence in the campus.