Why IIT-Ropar finds itself right on top
Geetu Vaid in Ropar
A narrow path ambling through green fields with silvery waters of the Sutlej peeping from one end and Shivalik foothills as a picturesque outline, it seems to be a drive through a typical rural landscape in Punjab. However, a couple of twists and turns later, four statesque pillars, with Indus Valley inscriptions, supporting steel-finished molecule models throw up a surprise. The first look of IIT-Ropar’s new campus is impressive.
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More than the immensity of the 500-acre campus, it is the deep imprint of allegory in its structure that mesmerises the first-time visitor. Whether it is the scientific aspiration represented in the pillars, the spiral reflecting the endeavour or the imposing buildings bearing the names of noted Indian scientists — there is a message and a meaning in everything here.
The fact that IIT-Ropar has pipped some of the best institutions to share the top place along with IISc-Bangalore in this year’s Times Higher Education (THE) rankings, only adds to the aura of the place. Though none of the Indian institutions figured in the top 300 as per the international ranking list released recently, IIT-Ropar has been creating ripples with its position in the 301-350 rank. A virtual dark horse, this 11-year-old institute is leading the pack of path-breaking new IITs by redefining engineering education.
With over 2,000 (2,004 to be precise) students and around 170 faculty members, IIT offers seven undergraduate and 11 postgraduate programmes. Research remains a key focus area here and in fact, a score of 100 in the research citation impact played a key role in catapulting IIT-Ropar to the top spot. This score for IISc was 32.4 and 49 for IIT-Delhi.
Institute Director Sarit K Das maintains that focus on research is embedded in the DNA of this institute. “The mission and vision document of IIT-Ropar makes it clear that quality of research is more important than the quantum of research and the THE score reflects this only,” says Das.
Tackling impediments
As Rome was not built in a day, the accolades for this newbie tucked in a non-descript area also did not come overnight.
The recent flood that left the campus submerged and caused damage to laboratories, equipment and infrastructure was not the only challenge that IIT-Ropar has faced over the past 11 years.
It has been an uphill journey to get noticed by students, or to get good faculty. Till 2015, it had just 600 students and around 60 faculty members. It was a well-planned and proactive approach that led to the success story being scripted in the lush green ambience of Punjab.
Bringing IIM-Calcutta on board to prepare a roadmap for the new institute was the first step that gave direction to Punjab’s only IIT. Next in line was the task of strengthening of faculty.
“Physical infrastructure alone doesn’t make an institution. It is the people who make an IIT,” says Das, who used “out-of the box” methods to get top talent to Ropar. “I travelled to different places like London, Toronto, Boston, Sydney, Melbourne, Singapore, etc, with a team to get the right people.” The young post-docs looking for better options in their home country were roped in with offers that were hard to refuse.
Right pitch for research
Various factors have contributed to the strong culture of research excellence on the campus. The institute has the highest research citations among the newer IITs. With as many as 513 of the total 2,004 students being PhD students, it is at par with several older IITs on the research-student ratio.
Allowing access to resources has gone a long way in creating a research-positive ambience. With each faculty member having the freedom to avail of seed grants up to Rs 1 crore, there is ample motivation to make a deep dive in various fields. The emphasis on quality research is also unmistakable as the faculty members are motivated to publish only in top-notch research publications.
“As many as 60 to 70 per cent publications in the electrical engineering department are in AIEEE, which shows the high level of research being conducted here and same is the case with other departments,” says Das. Summer visitation programmes also allow global exposure to the faculty members, wherein they can visit Ivy League universities and build collaborations.
The institute has also picked up certain niche verticals for socially relevant research. These include water, cancer research, electric vehicles, renewable energy distribution, manufacturing, etc. “The purpose of research is to create synergy and provide solutions to problems of people, only then does education become impactful and holistic. Thus, our students and faculty are working closely with people and government agencies to develop technologies that will improve quality of life,” he adds.
Engineering education is evolving and boundaries among different branches of science are blurring fast. This is the reason research and socially-relevant innovations have become important components of engineering. Watching a molecular biologist, immunologists and electrical engineers working together in the biomedical engineering department is a testimony to the changing paradigms of engineering and the way progressive institutes like IIT-Ropar are working on these.
Flexible curriculum: 4 types of degrees
- Allowing students flexibility to accommodate their talent and aspirations within the curriculum, the institute offers four types of degrees. The first one is the basic BTech degree. Then there is ‘BTech with concentration’, wherein a student can take an extra course in a second branch of his choice. For example, a student of mechanical engineering interested in computers can take five extra courses in computer science and get a ‘BTech with concentration’ degree.
- The third option allows students to take minors in the branches of their choice. And then there is the BTech Honours degree where students can do a research project in BTech.
- Those with entrepreneurial ambitions have access to Technology Business Incubators which provide resources and handholding for setting up new ventures.
Quantum leap
Four years back, we were at the bottom of the newer IITs. In case of faculty, students, infrastructure, we were nowhere. But today, IIT-Ropar is leading among the lot. The rate at which we have progressed is much better. —Sarit K Das, director, IIT Ropar
