Interdisciplinary courses, early exit facility and more: How IITs adopted NEP 2020

In line with NEP 2020, IIT Hyderabad has introduced Fractal Academics, i.e. courses having credits ranging from 0.5 to 3, which enables students to have breadth and depth in the subjects of their interest. The institute has assured that the curriculum in all UG programmes has 10 per cent liberal arts incorporated and the students can also earn credits from outside the institute.

Additionally, the institute has also adopted the scheme of the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC). Multiple entry and exit facility is being implemented for all integrated masters’ programmes — 19 programmes in all. Regulations for pursuing two academic programmes simultaneously have been adopted and the University is offering 14 diploma courses through Centre for Distance and Virtual Learning. In line with the multi-disciplinary approach delineated in NEP, the University of Hyderabad has also introduced new courses such as Introduction to Gender Studies, Value Based Education, NGOs and Nation Building etc.

IIT Guwahati

With an aim of institutional restructuring and consolidation to make sure quality education is delivered to all, the institute has established multi-disciplinary academic centres and schools such as:

– Centre for Disaster Management and Research

– Centre for Intelligent Cyber Physical Systems

– Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems

– Centre for Sustainable Polymers

– Centre for Drone Technology

– Centre for Sustainable Water Research

– Mehta Family School of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence

– School of Energy Science and Engineering

– School of Agro and Rural Technology

– School of Health Science & Technology

– School of Business

Additionally, a few more programmes were included, such as:

– MTech programme in Biomedical Science and Engineering with Specialization in Medical Devices and Diagnostics

– BTech in Energy Engineering from July 2022 Session

– BTech in Data Science and AI

– MA in Liberal Arts

– Dual Degree [MTech + PhD] Programme in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering for non-CSE background students

– Dual Degree [MS (Engineering) + PhD] Programme in the Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering

– Inter-Disciplinary MTech Programme in Data Science

– Inter-Disciplinary MS (Research) Programme in E-Mobility

IIT Mandi

IIT Mandi has established interdisciplinary research centres such as the Indian Knowledge System and Mental Health Applications Centre (IKSMHA), and the Centre for AI and Robotics (CAIR). This has resulted in new courses at the Bachelor, Master, and PhD levels that align with the NEP’s emphasis on multidisciplinary education, the institute claims. As a result, the IIT Mandi has three new interdisciplinary programmes in the last two years:

– MBA (AI & DS)

– BTech in General Engineering

– BTech in Mathematics and Computing

IIT Jodhpur

Along with multiple entry and exit options, IIT Jodhpur has also launched a few multidisciplinary courses such as BS in Physics (with specialisation) and BS in Chemistry (with specialisation) under NEP 2020.

“These uniquely blended programs align with the National Education Policy and IIT Jodhpur’s vision of holistic student development, positioning the Institution as a leading force at the intersection of science and technology,” the institute claimed.

The institute has also started some new interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary academic entities such as schools, centres and interdisciplinary research platforms.

IIT Gandhinagar

Under NEP 2020, the institute has also started some new interdisciplinary centres in the fields of Archaeology, Biomedical Engineering, Sustainable Development, Design and Innovation, Creative Learning, and Safety; international exposure to students through industry/academic research internships; making social impact through outreach programmes and by proving financial support to needy students; providing different language courses to students; engaging industry experts as Professors of Practice; among others.

Additionally, now, IITGN is also going to provide verifiable digital mark sheets, degrees, and medal certificates to the graduating students in USB so that they can access it from anywhere.

IIT Bombay

IIT Bombay believes that flexibility is an essential component of NEP 2020. “Students, therefore, have wide freedom to choose courses across disciplines. Apart from flexibility, new disciplines beyond traditional lines envisaged by the NEP have been encouraged at IIT such as the School of Management, School for Entrepreneurship and others,” Prof S Sudarshan, Deputy Director, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay said.

He further said that IIT Bombay is going to offer an exit option after the third year with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Engineering. Last year 15 students opted for it when it was implemented on an experimental basis.

“The IIT council decided to start this facility so the students who are not able to complete the four-year degree offered by the IIT will be able to have an honourable exit with this new degree,” he said.

Banaras Hindu University (BHU)

BHU has regulated the Academic Bank of Credit system under NEP 2020, and encouraged more students to join the platform. The total registration on ABC Portal for session 2021-22 is 14900 and 15722 for 2022-23, the institute stated. Additionally, the newly admitted students are mandatorily advised to mention ABC at the time of filling out the online enrolment form/ examination’s the university’s portal.

Also, while the multi-level entry and exit are already implemented in some of the vocational programmes, the institute is hopeful that it will be able to implement the four year programme from the next academic session i.e. 2024-25.

BHU has launched a new initiative named Trans-disciplinary Research Promotion Scheme which offers several new funding opportunities in line with NEP 2020. The varsity has also initiated nine post graduate and two diploma courses in multidisciplinary subjects namely Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security, Archival Studies and Management, Oceanography, Structural and Chemical Biology, Industrial Chemistry, Instrumentation Techniques and Application, Agricultural Journalism, Urban & Regional Studies, Gender Studies, Acute Stroke Care and Wild Life & Health Management. The university is also conducting 457 programmes on SWAYAM and NPTEL.

The varsity is also offering more scholarships and better academic timeline for international students and has also signed MoUs with at least 15 international institutions — Tokyo University, Japan, Seoul National University, South Korea, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, University of Surry, United Kingdom, University of Bucharest, Romania, University of Kyoto, Japan, Karlstad University, Sweden, Georgia University, United States and others.

IIT Kanpur

The institute runs several online courses and eMasters degree programmes to cater to students and working professionals. For a smooth transition into the IIT ecosystem, the students facing language barriers are provided with multilingual study materials, in line with NEP, under the Shivani Centre for the Nurture and Re-integration of Hindi and other Indian languages.

IIT Kanpur is also promoting Student Entrepreneurship Policy, in line with NEP 2020. It allows students to pursue entrepreneurship by registering for ‘Innovation and Entrepreneurship Credits’ or taking a semester drop.

Additionally, the institute is now also promoting flexibility with double majors, minors, dual degrees, and master’s degrees across fields. New degree options like Honours degrees and inter-departmental programs, known as Social Sciences, Communication, Humanities, Economics, Management, and Environment (SCHEME), were introduced to provide a holistic and multidisciplinary educational experience, transcending traditional boundaries, the institute claims.

The institute is also launching new departments in multidisciplinary domains such as Cognitive Science, Design, and Space, Planetary & Astronomical Sciences and Engineering. “Clubbed with the upcoming Gangwal School of Medical Sciences & Technology, these new departments bear testimony to NEP’s focus on multidisciplinary education and collaborations for research and innovation,” the institute said.

IISER Thiruvananthapuram

The Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram (IISER TVM) is imbibing NEP 2020 in its course structure by trying to break barriers between arts, sciences, curricular and extracurricular activities, etc. to make education holistic in a true sense, and to produce well-rounded individuals, the institute claims. To do so, augmentation of the curriculum with courses in humanities, arts, social sciences, etc., has been carried out by revising the course structure of the BS-MS programme to enable students to credit a larger number of courses in disciplines outside of their respective specialisations.

Additionally, as mandated by the NEP 2020, IISER TVM adopted a tenure-track system for new faculty members two years back, providing the necessary motivation for young faculty members to perform well in research as well as in teaching.

IIT Madras

In line with NEP 2020, IIT Madras has established multiple avenues to nurture students’ creativity and entrepreneurial spirit. These include the Center for Innovation (CFI) and Nirmaan pre-incubator, which foster innovation and entrepreneurship.

The institute also claims that the varsity is implementing NEP 2020 through various initiatives such as BS Degree (Data Science and Applications) and Inter-Disciplinary Dual Degree (IDDD) programmes. “The unique aspects of these programs include multiple entry and exit options, providing for a change of discipline, and enabling Humanities specialization for Technical students,” officials stated.

Additionally, IIT Madras is also registered in the Academic Bank of Credits Portal under the Central Higher Education Institution category. As many as 491 students of IIT Madras have registered in the same.

IIT Delhi

In line with the aim of NEP 2020 that talks about multidisciplinary higher education, the Institute has launched the following programs. 

• B.Tech. programs in Materials Engineering., Energy Science and Engineering, Computational and Applied Mechanics
• Bachelor in Design 
• MSc in Economics, Cognitive Science
• M.Tech. programs in Cybersecurity, Electric Mobility, ML and Data Science, Biomolecular and Bioprocess Engineering.
• Master’s in Public Policy
• Joint PG Diploma with NITIE, Mumbai, in Visionary Leadership for Manufacturing 
• Master of Science by Research (MSR) programs in Automotive Research and Tribology, Energy Science and Engineering, Material Science and Engineering, Transportation Research and Injury Prevention

Further, the Institute has started the following centres and school focusing on interdisciplinary   research: 

• Centre for Automotive Research and Tribology
• Optics & Photonics Centre
• Sensors, Instrumentation and Cyber-Physical Systems Engineering
• Transportation Research and Injury Prevention Centre
• School of Artificial Intelligence

Additionally, IIT Delhi is providing its students with multiple entry as well as exit options, as it is one of the key provisions of the NEP. 

• PhD exit with MS(R)
• M.Tech. /MBA exit with PG Diploma of IIT (DIIT)
• UG exit with diploma or diploma in a particular engineering discipline 
• Discipline change at the end of 1st year of UG
• UG to PG conversion 
• Transfer from one PG programme to another and upgradation