IITs to increase PhD enrollments in coming years

In order to improve their rankings in global lists of best universities, Indian Institutes of Technology would focus more on research works and increase the intake of doctorate students over the next 4-5 years.

As per an Economic Times report, IITs in Kharagpur, Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai want to almost double the enrolment of PhD students to increase focus on research & innovation and drive internationalisation of these institutes, with an eye on drastically improving their global rankings.
Currently, the country's premier higher education centers struggle to make it to top global lists.
"Apart from providing a pool for high quality faculty and entrepreneurs to fuel the startup industry, increased focus on research will help the IITs to improve their image in world rankings," said a government official.
IIT Delhi plans to enroll 300 PhD students this year and would almost double the number over the next two years.
IIT Madras has already doubled the intake of PhD scholars in the past two years to 500 from about 200, while IIT Kharagpur too is looking to double the number of PhD students from about 400 last year.
Further, IIT Bombay expects the number of PhD students graduating to almost double in the next four years from 210 last year. It has admitted over 500 doctorate students this year.
IITs are now pushing for more international exposure. "For a better ranking, IITs will have to work around building an international brand. We at IIT Kharagpur are roping in our alumni network for the same," said Siddhartha Mukhopadhyay, dean of alumni affairs and international relations at IIT Kharagpur.
IIT Kharagpur plans to send over 300 students on International summer and winter programmes, conferences and competitions this year. It's also pushing for international internship for its students.
The institute is also setting up innovation labs to encourage research and innovations.
IIT Kanpur is also in the race to scale up research projects. "Earlier, we were doing research on projects valued around Rs 20 lakh but now, through our faculty, we are chasing projects valued a few crores," said Sandeep Verma, head of chemistry department at IIT Kanpur.
Sarit Kumar Das, dean of academic affairs at IIT Chennai, said a thrust on research will help IITs improve their global rankings to around 35 from 60-80 now.
He, however, said ranking is not the sole reason to focus on research. "IITs are role models for other institutes in the country. Also the role of IITs is moving away from being a mere supplier of manpower to producing entrepreneurs, CEOs and high quality professors," Das said.
IITs in Bombay and Delhi are also increasing the number of PhD students to push research. "World over, PhD programmes and PhD students are among the main generators of new knowledge and expertise, together with faculty and research staff in universities," said Narayan Rangaraj, dean of academic programmes at IIT Bombay.
Anurag Sharma, dean of academics at IIT Delhi, said the institute is building more hostel facility for PhD students. "Perception so far is that IIT Delhi is an undergraduate institute but we are now looking at establishing ourselves as a research institute. PhD is the main engine for research," he said.
(Image: Indiatimes)