IIT-KGP to revamp UG, PG programmes in near future

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur is all set to restructure its courses from the next academic year to ensure that industry orientation and innovation become the focal points of academics.

"Our objective is to create programmes that are relevant to the present day world with the advent of new technology in all spheres of science and technology. We are going to set up some unique centres of excellence from time to time to give our plan of curriculum restructure the much needed push," Professor Partha Pratim Chakraborti, director of IIT KGP said while addressing a press conference at the institute on Sunday. According to a senior professor of the institute, project-based learning will be a major part of the restructuring programme.

"Project-based learning is aimed at quality academic engagement of the undergraduate students through which they can learn and explore the technical domains of the interest. It will also facilitate project based learning for the students by providing them guidance and facilities for executing quality undergraduate projects. The redefining of the curriculum, both for the undergraduate and post graduate courses, will ensure that students earn additional credit for innovative projects," the professor added.

Elaborating on the process of project-based learning, he said that faculty members will be drawn from various academic units who will participate and co-ordinate this programme by way of guiding the students and providing them necessary support in terms of lab/computing and other facilities in executing the project. The project modules will be carefully designed keeping in mind the level of the student and will specify the expected outcome along with the learning objectives.

The project-based learning will be made compulsory for 1st year students.