IIT Hyderabad Professor Says ‘Explore Innovative Selection Methods For IIT-JEE To Embrace A Positive Change’; Check Details Here

New Delhi: Recent events at IIT campuses throughout the nation have given the conversation over student mental wellness more traction. 

Professor Budaraju Srinivasa Murty discusses gender equality at the IITs, the necessity for coaching centres, and rank-based discrimination with indianexpress.com.

Ques. Why has rank-based prejudice just now come to light as a result of the tragic events that have occurred on IIT campuses? What steps has IIT Hyderabad taken to stop this kind of prejudice?

Ans. Any type of discrimination, including rank-based discrimination, is not tolerated at IIT-H. Every student should feel valued and respected as part of the supportive and inclusive atmosphere we work so hard to create. In order to stop this discrimination, we have established therapy services, awareness campaigns, and workshops to raise awareness. We aggressively encourage a climate of sympathy, comprehension, and respect among our student body.

Ques. IIT grads and present students have frequently attempted to share their stories of challenges in coaching institutes based in Kota and other places, whether through OTT series or social media posts, etc. The strain on students has increased as coaching institutions have gained popularity in recent years. What do you think about this?

Ans. We can relate to the IIT applicants' challenges after hearing their poignant tales of hardship. To aid students in overcoming obstacles, we have put in place mentorship programmes, stress management courses, and peer support networks. 

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The liberal arts and creative arts make up 10% of the overall credits that the students receive thanks to our programme. This enables the students to study dance, music, painting, and other art forms, and IIT-H also supports societal harmony by sponsoring student events like the yearly cultural and tech fest, Elan & nVision, Inter-Hostel Tournament - Milan, Inter-departmental Tournament-Diesta, and many other events so that students can cultivate interpersonal skills.

JEE has evolved into a filtering test. Smarter pupils who can successfully complete any objective style of question paper are being produced by JEE preparation coaching institutions. The IIT educational system, however, calls for a variety of talents and depth of knowledge in the subject. Therefore, a large amount of unlearning and relearning is required when a student transfers from a coaching centre to an IIT, which adds stress to the pupils.

Additionally, there is additional pressure on students to perform well in the first year in order to earn a high CGPA for a branch change when they do not receive the branch of their choice. As a result, at IIT-H, we have kept the minor and double major options while removing the branch change option.

The availability of numerous science faculty members at 23 IITs makes it viable to once again include subjective question types in JEE Advanced as a solution. However, in the long run, I hope we have a better method of choosing candidates for IITs than only the JEE Advanced written exam.

Ques. Do you believe taking coaching programmes is truly required to pass the JEE?

Ans. While some students may benefit from coaching, we come across many students who have passed the JEE without it. Strong fundamentals, the capacity to apply them, and targeted training are necessary for passing the JEE.

NCERT textbooks are an essential part of the preparation process for the JEE Advanced. To pass the JEE Advanced, students must, as I've already indicated, learn to apply the principles.

Ques. In IITs, there are hardly any female students. Do you believe that girls in the engineering industry are at a social or general disadvantage, even though the trend is slowly changing? 

Ans. It is important for society to address the underrepresentation of female students in engineering, including at IITs. In India, girls have a long-standing tradition of favouring biology and medicine over engineering and technology.

At the PG and PhD levels, we have more female students than male students, with a current female student strength of about 33%. We want to provide equitable chances for people of all genders in the engineering sector by promoting an inclusive environment and supporting young women. In an effort to enhance the number of female students at IIT Hyderabad, we have organised a committee of female faculty members. 

Ques. How many seats were unfilled over the previous three years? 

Ans. About 5% of the available seats are empty this year. This is on par with all other IITs, even more established ones. Candidates not being selected for the branch of their choosing is the main cause.

Ques. Has the IIT-H observed the consequences of the online courses brought on by the Covid pandemic? Do you believe that the pandemic increased the pressure on students?

Ans. Students and staff did face particular difficulties as a result of the Covid-19 epidemic, including as the switch to online learning. To guarantee that the learning process was not significantly hampered, however, we quickly adjusted at IITH to the online form of instruction. With the addition of 20 hybrid classrooms, we enhanced our digital infrastructure. We also employed cutting-edge teaching techniques and offered comprehensive online support to students.

While the epidemic certainly adds to the pressure, we deliberately worked to reduce its effects and create a supportive learning atmosphere. For professionals who are currently employed, we have established an online MTech curriculum to help them advance their knowledge. In addition, IIT Hyderabad is proud to have been the first institution in the nation to use OAT (Open to All Teaching) to open its classroom to visitors.

We will start offering 15 courses through this programme in August. Our goal is to become a hub for world knowledge.

Ques. IT personnel became alarmed when they learned about recent layoffs. Do you believe that the flood of layoffs will also badly impact Indian students? 

Ans. All parties involved in the IT business are concerned about the latest wave of layoffs. While predicting the future is challenging, it is crucial for students to have a solid foundation of knowledge, skills, and adaptability. If a student possesses the required abilities, employment is assured. In the workplace, abilities are now more important than degrees. 

At IIT Hyderabad, we place a strong focus on a comprehensive education and give our students a wide range of skills, including the capacity for problem-solving, critical analysis, and communication. To increase their employability and get them ready for the constantly changing workforce, we promote entrepreneurship and industrial cooperation.

Additionally, we are creating an environment that produces kids who are job producers rather than job seekers.

Ques. Are there any electives offered at the institute that have recently become more popular?

Ans. IIT Hyderabad has implemented a number of unconventional programmes during the last five years that have become well-liked by students. BTech in Industrial Chemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Computational Engineering, IC Design and Technology, and a UG programme on Design (BDes) are a few significant examples of UG Programs.

Additionally, we offer a special BTech curriculum in engineering sciences that allows students to choose the subjects they want to take. Several multi-disciplinary MTech Programs, including those in additive manufacturing, e-waste management, energy, sensors, smart mobility, systems packaging, semiconductor materials and devices, etc., were also launched by our organisation.

Ques. Do you have any suggestions for educators on how to get kids ready for IITs and other higher education institutions?

Ans. A balanced strategy is needed to prepare students for IITs and other higher education institutions. Schools are crucial in helping pupils develop a solid foundation of knowledge, curiosity, and problem-solving skills. 

Focusing on fostering conceptual comprehension, analytical thinking, and self-learning is essential. Schools should offer a safe space that promotes inquiry-based learning, practical experience, and critical thinking. 

To assist students succeed in difficult exams, it's also crucial to teach a growth mentality, resilience, and time management skills. Exams like the IITs should not be the end in and of itself, but rather a means to an end.

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