‘Relook research projects, engineering education and bridge industry gap,’ says IIT alumni association

“Out of the nine primary objectives enlisted in the vision document, we would like to stress on two key objectives. One is to translate research projects into deliverable outcomes and bridge the gap with industries. Academia needs to understand the requirements of the industry and find solutions that align with their vision. Second, we also want to discuss the nature of engineering education with the IIT directors as we move along. We will discuss the research aspects of engineering education, gather inputs from IIT directors and chalk out a policy brief to take it forward,” said Bhattacharyya.

ALSO READ | Envisioning frameworks for inclusive growth of India through ‘techno-social’ entrepreneurship informed by UN SDGs

The two-day session with different industry leaders, IIT professors, students, and think tanks will also deliberate on change in the pedagogical structure for teaching engineering which is in sync with the current industry needs, technological advancement and push IITians into making disruptive innovations.

With a growing number of students committing suicide in IITs, Bhattacharyya appealed to the institutions to admit students with strong foundational and learning skills and resistance against stress. “After the armed forces, engineering and medical education space is the most intense and disciplined area. The issue of student suicides can be addressed, only when institutions think beyond social justice and admit students with strong foundational skills and those with the right mental space to take on challenges and stress. Engineering is a high performing space and with high performance comes stress. In addition, parents should not impose engineering on their children, if the latter’s interest is elsewhere,” said Bhattacharrya.

Kris Gopalakrishnan, chairman of Axilor Ventures and co-founder of Infosys stressed that India needs to increase investment on research and development to 3 per cent of its GDP. “Researchers here should focus on areas that will engage the world over the next 10 years and address bigger issues like neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Dementia among others. Research projects need to be based on mission mode, multi year and interdisciplinary programmes with guaranteed multi year funding,” said Gopalakrishnan.

The two-day event will also help participants create new ideas, products, processes, or services that bring positive change to society. The conference is structured around the themes of dialogue, practical application, and exhibition, and serves as a nexus for technologists, innovators, researchers, startups, academics, investors, and policymakers. The focus also lies in nurturing collaboration to craft a fresh approach to operations.