A new space tech centre and liberal approach at IIT Delhi

NEW DELHI: In line with the approach suggested in the Draft New National Education Policy (NEP) of emphasis on “liberal education”, the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, is starting M.Sc Economics and M.Sc Cognitive Science. The institute also plans to start undergraduate level courses from the next academic year.

The institute is also collaborating with the Indian Space Research Organisation, ISRO, to establish a “ISRO Space Technology Cell” at the IIT Delhi campus.

“ISRO will define the problem, and IIT Delhi student and faculty will work together on those problems. We want to contribute to the growth of ISRO in future,” said IIT Delhi director, V Ramgopal Rao, at a press meet ahead of the institute’s fiftieth convocation.

Rao also said that the institution will launch a Bachelor of Design programme next year. He said: “Students who will take admission in these courses do not need to know maths, physics or chemistry. If someone is creative, they know how to design or draw, they are eligible. The admission process is still being discussed.”

The final draft of the NEP also emphasises on “liberal education” and the integration of the arts and humanities with STEM – science, technology, engineering, mathematics – subjects. The Indian Institutes of Technology will also move toward liberal education.

Direct admission to PhD for NIT Students

The institute has also modified the admission process for graduates from National Institutes of Technology seeking to join its PhD programmes. Top-scoring students will get direct admission.

Explaining the process to Careers360, Rao said: “NIT B.Tech students having CGPA of 8 or above can come to IIT Delhi in their final year. We will provide them with accommodation, they will also get a fee waiver, they will get a supervisor also. This way, they would be able to complete their final year at IIT Delhi. If the supervisor is happy with their work and the students are also happy they do not need to give any entrance exam to enrol for the PhD programme.”

At the fiftieth convocation, 1,217 postgraduate and 825 undergraduate students will be awarded degrees. Rao added: “The institute is investing over Rs 250 crores in augmenting its research facilities. Over Rs. 750 crores-worth of infrastructure projects are currently underway on the campus. We are excited about the progress we are able to make in all our endeavours.”

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