IISER Pune plans BS-MS student exchange with other IISERs, more courses for professionals: Director
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune, along with IISER Kolkata, was among the first IISERs established in 2006. Dedicated to research-integrated basic sciences education, the institute has emerged as one of the top central universities in the country, with advanced research facilities in diverse scientific fields including epigenetics, nanoscience, energy science and science and mathematics education. In this interaction with Academia360, IISER Pune director Sunil Bhagwat speaks about new academic initiatives, maintaining ethical integrity in research and the recent controversy around the institute disinviting anti-caste academics on campus following opposition from a right-wing student body. Edited excerpts:
What have been your priorities for IISER Pune since becoming the director in 2023?
Continuing high standards of research and working closely with the industry and government bodies for science and education-related matters.
In the past few years, IISER Pune has initiated master's programmes in several disciplines. What has been the progress across these courses?
Two batches of Master of Science students with a total of 44 students have graduated since introducing the programme for the first time in 2022. The programme in Quantum Technology was launched in 2024, and the first batch of 25 students will graduate in May 2026. The Master of Science Programme in Chemistry was launched in 2022. Last year, in 2025, eight students graduated, and 16 will in 2026 at the upcoming convocation. The Master of Science Programme in Maths and Computing began in 2025, and 14 students were admitted.
Does the institute plan to add any new courses or specialisations in the upcoming year?
Soon, IISER Pune will be opening a few of our regular courses to industry professionals to strengthen industry-academia linkages. The PhD programme has already been open to industry professionals.
IISER Pune recently signed an inter-faculty framework agreement with Université Paris Cité. How will this agreement work and which sections of the students and faculty will it benefit?
The MoU with the Université Paris Cité provides a platform for developing interactions between the faculty members of both organisations; these interactions could help catalyse research collaborations. Joint projects, workshops or similar research/academic activities can be proposed to national or international funding agencies for financial support.
Having an MoU strengthens the application for joint funding from agencies like CEFIPRA, Erasmus+, etc. In the context of students, we hope to develop bilateral student exchange programmes or internships, which will act like a pipeline to initiate research collaborations.
Has the institute entered or is it planning similar international partnerships? What is their nature, and what academic areas do they cover?
We have similar agreements with various international universities and research institutes. The research areas are of mutual interest and not restrictive. Some partnerships are at the level of all IISERs. For example, last year, the IISER group of institutions signed an agreement with the University of Buffalo for research partnerships.
IISER Pune, in 2022, had also joined TISS Mumbai to offer training in science and mathematics education. What has been the progress?
We have been running elective courses in science education with the participation of one faculty member from TISS Mumbai. One of IISER Pune's faculty members likewise taught at TISS. Independently, four courses per year in science education were being offered in the last few years at IISER Pune, which will be increased to six in the upcoming academic year.
The IISER standing committee, in the January meeting, discussed permitting students to undertake a one-semester experiential internship in lieu of a regular classroom semester. Has it been implemented yet?
IISER Pune awards credits for summer internships and fifth-year research projects undertaken at research groups within and outside IISER Pune. Soon, students in the sixth, seventh and eighth semesters of the BS-MS programme will be permitted to undertake a one-semester exchange to other IISERs.
Is the institute considering any other pedagogical and evaluation reforms?
We are formulating a policy for the ethical use of AI in education and research.
The centre has also urged IISERs to set up research parks, incubators and section 8 companies to co-locate academia, startups, industry R&D, and translational facilities. What is IISER Pune doing on this front?
IISER Pune presently hosts two section-8 companies on campus – AIC-SEED [Atal Incubation Centre – IISER Pune SEED Foundation] and I-Hub Quantum Technology Foundation. I-Hub is also looking at taking research ahead in partnership with industries. We are evaluating the possibility of setting up a research park.
IISER Pune has been identified for setting up a Centre of Excellence for Advanced Computing. Any updates on it?
Several developments in quantum technologies are being spearheaded by the I-Hub Quantum Technology Foundation on the campus, along with efforts to partner with industry on both hardware and software aspects.
IISERs have been asked to support students from vernacular backgrounds in their transition to the medium of instruction. Are any such measures being undertaken here?
At IISER Pune, a core course in English communication is offered to BS-MS students in their first semester. Initiated by the student community, a peer-based assistance programme is in place wherein senior students help the newly joined students.
Despite the rising volume, the scientific research in India continues to face questions about its quality and integrity. How can this be improved?
Ethical integrity must remain a priority, even as unscrupulous elements can be present anywhere. Also, academic output should not be measured by quantity alone. We should leverage rigorous peer-review standards as indicators of quality, such as journals listed as Q1 journals. Ultimately, the final impact of research should be seen on society, industry etc.
How can institutes like IISER Pune strike a balance between fundamental research and the demands for more applied research?
Fundamental research is not defined as that which is not applied. Many fundamental research topics go on to lead to applications. Segregating research in this way hampers the advancement of scientific developments.
The representation of women and marginalised castes among students and faculty members at IISER Pune remains a cause of worry, much like other premier institutes. What, if any, steps have been taken by the institute to mitigate this problem.
We ensure that women students and scholars have adequate facilities and convenient living spaces. The campus has a separate hostel for women research scholars and undergraduate students. The Women in Science Committee hosts talks by invited speakers and by women researchers on campus as a way to promote their work and inspire participation of more women in research.
Last year, the institute dropped some of the anti-caste speakers at the 'Mukti Parv' event following complaints by ABVP? How can the institute maintain freedom of expression and academic autonomy on campus?
At IISER Pune, we value freedom of expression and academic autonomy on campus, and we also exercise the same with a sense of responsibility.
IISERs are now admitting students exclusively through IAT. Will this system continue?
Currently, students are admitted to the BS-MS programme through a common aptitude test conducted across all IISERs. We are evaluating the mechanism by which students who are specially trained at national level in a competitive manner, such as Olympiads, can be given preference for admissions.