Top-quality faculty, Robust research infra, Unique B.Tech Courses helped get among top 10: IIT Hyderabad Director

IIT Hyderabad is the only second-generation IIT that has been ranked among the top 10 in NIRF, Its Director, Prof B.S. Murty discusses the reasons behind it. He also talks about various new courses being introduced by the institute and how his institute is working on improving gender diversity. Read the excerpts below...

Prof B.S. Murty, Director, IIT Hyderabad

Q. Among the second-generation IITs, IIT Hyderabad has emerged as the best, What according to you are the factors behind it?

IIT-H Director: The emergence of IITH as the best among the second-generation IITs can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, we have consistently focused on attracting and retaining top-quality faculty members who are experts in their respective fields. Their expertise and dedication have played a crucial role in delivering excellent education and fostering a culture of innovation. Secondly, our robust research infrastructure and state-of-the-art facilities provide students with a conducive learning environment, enabling them to explore their full potential. Additionally, our emphasis on interdisciplinary research, industry collaborations, and entrepreneurship has helped us create a dynamic ecosystem that nurtures innovation and fosters industry readiness among our students. A few unique features of academics at IITH are the following.

• Fractal Academics, wherein the student takes up several 0.5 and 1 credit courses to identify the field of interest and then goes deeper by taking 2 and 3 credit courses in their chosen fields.

• A curriculum that has only 60% of total credits associated with the major and the remaining 40% dedicated to an overall development (10% Basic sciences, 10% Basic Engineering, 10% Liberal arts and creative arts and 10% Free electives).

• A BTech program (Engineering Sciences) that allows the students to choose courses based on their interests.

• A multidisciplinary BTech program (Computational Engineering) that prepares computational experts for the manufacturing Industry.

• Several unique UG programs such as BTech in AI, Biomedical Engineering, Biotech & Bioinformatics, Industrial Chemistry, IC Design and technology and a BDes program.

• A semester-long internship with 6 credits that allow students to spend more time in industry or pursue their research interests.

• A mandatory 1 credit course “Industry Lectures” to expose MTech students to exciting technological challenges in the industry.

• Focussed efforts to ensure that a majority of MTech projects are based on industry-defined problems.

• Several industry-oriented multidisciplinary MTech programs to make the students industry-ready.

• Several online MTech programs for working professionals that allow them to earn an MTech degree with a lot of flexibility in learning including an exit possibility with an Executive MTech.

• Waiver of residential requirement for external Ph.D. students to enhance industry connections.

Q. There is a trend among IITs to start courses around AI and Data Science. How is the demand from industry, is IIT Hyderabad also running similar courses?

IIT-H Director: The demand for AI and Data Science courses from the industry is witnessing significant growth. At IITH, we recognized this trend early and introduced a BTech in AI in 2019, the first in the country, and the first batch passed out this year with good jobs. We also offer a regular MTech program, an online MTech in Data Sciences and a certificate program in this field, to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in these areas. By aligning our curriculum with industry demands and emphasizing practical applications, we aim to produce graduates who can make meaningful contributions in these cutting-edge fields.

Q. At present, IIT Hyderabad has around 600 BTech seats. Do you plan to add more seats?

IIT-H Director: While IITH has close to a total student strength of around 4500 the master plan of IITH is for a student strength of 20,000 in our 600 Acre campus. As an institute committed to excellence, we continuously evaluate the demand for our programs and assess the infrastructure and resources required to maintain high standards. While expanding the number of BTech seats (and PG/PhD seats) is a possibility, it must be done with careful consideration to ensure the quality of education and infrastructure. At the same time, IITH would like to be known as an institute focused on research while providing quality teaching. Our PG+PhD students account for 60% of total student strength and we would like to maintain this.

Q. Tell us something about the Biomedical engineering course. How many seats are there?

IIT-H Director: The Biomedical Engineering BTech Program at IITH offers a unique opportunity for students interested in the intersection of engineering and healthcare. The number of seats allocated for BTech in Biomedical Engineering is 25 for this year. We aim to provide a comprehensive education in this field and equip our students with the skills to contribute to advancements in healthcare technology, medical devices, and research.

The Biomedical Engineering department at IITH is a highly interdisciplinary department that is working on various aspects to address the grand healthcare challenges facing humanity. One of the major areas of focus of the department is the development of biomedical devices in collaboration with hospitals and industry. IITH also offers a unique MTech in Medical Device Innovation, jointly with the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, Hyderabad, wherein the student goes through a 4-month immersion in a hospital to identify the problems being faced by the patients and doctors and at the end of the 2-year MTech the student comes up with a prototype of a medical device.

Q. Many of the IITs are working on improving gender diversity on their campus; how is IIT Hyderabad working in this direction?

IIT-H Director: IITH is actively working towards improving gender diversity on our campus. We believe in the importance of creating an inclusive and equitable environment that encourages the participation of women in engineering. By addressing societal biases and providing equal opportunities, the representation of women can be increased gradually as the trend suggests. A few new measures are going to be introduced at IITH soon in this direction.

Q. I would like to understand the placement trends in the post-COVID era.

IIT-H Director: The placement trends in the post-Covid era have witnessed resilience and adaptability from both students and recruiters. At IITH, we have proactively supported our students during these challenging times by providing them with the necessary resources and assistance for skill development and job readiness. While the pandemic did pose unique challenges, our students have showcased their ability to navigate these circumstances and secure excellent placement opportunities.

Our close ties with industry partners, coupled with the strong technical foundation of our students, have continued to attract recruiters and facilitate successful placements with negligible effects. We had witnessed 500+ placements, with the highest placement percentage in last season. We have also introduced a two-track placement to help the students who are interested in core jobs so that the core manufacturing industries are also brought for recruitment on day 1 along with other software industries in a parallel track.

At IITH, we give more importance to creating an ecosystem wherein students strive to be “Job Creators,” rather than “Job Seekers”. At IITH, even a 1st year UG student can work on an innovative idea via our BUILD Scheme (Bold and Unique Ideas Leading to Development), which can eventually become a successful entity. We not only fund the students, provide them mentorship for these BUILD projects, but also provide a semester break with 6 credits to the students who are interested in working on such innovative ideas. In the past 5 years, we have mentored ~130 Startups that have created 1000+ jobs and Rs. 1200+ Cr revenue.

Q. What are your future plans for the institute?

IIT-H Director: As we look to the future, our plans for IITH encompass various aspects. We are committed to further strengthening our academic programs and research capabilities. This includes expanding our research infrastructure, fostering interdisciplinary collaborations, and promoting innovation and entrepreneurship. We aim to enhance our industry connection, forge strategic partnerships, and leverage emerging technologies to address real-world challenges.

Additionally, we will continue to prioritize the holistic development of our students, nurturing their leadership skills and fostering an inclusive and diverse campus culture. We would also to focus on skill development to generate employable human resources for the country through our outreach programs.

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