Dual-track MTech, ‘product Phds’: IITs plan large-scale PG, research revamp

The Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) are set to "revamp" their MTech curriculum and will likely make industry internships a compulsory component of the programme, reveal the minutes of the IIT Council meeting published this week. The council also discussed dividing the MTech programme into two tracks – one dedicated to research and the other "to industry engagement".

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The discussion on MTech courses and the IIT Council’s recommendations followed a review of the postgraduate programmes in engineering led by IIT Hyderabad which shared its report in the meeting. The council has also recommended that “discipline-based industry-dominated committees” be constituted by the Standing Committee of the IIT Council to keep the chairman – education minister Dharmendra Pradhan – and the council on the progress on reforms.

The council also discussed reforms in the doctoral programmes at the IITs, recommending a “project-first PhD model” – a suggestion from IIT Ropar. The body also recommended 10-year reviews and mid-course external peer reviews and "strategic visioning” every five years; IIT Delhi will prepare a white-paper on this process.

Also in the works is a two-year programme to train 300-350 “promising faculty” members for leadership positions in the IITs. IIT Bombay and IIT Kharagpur are responsible for planning the programme, along with the Capacity Building Commission.

IIT MTech Reforms: Dual-track, internships

IIT Hyderabad presented the report of the Committee on MTech Reforms which found that BTech students keep away from MTech courses mainly for two reasons – “limited availability of specialisations” and the absence of internships.

In the light of these findings, the council discussed creating “dual-track MTech” courses in which one track is oriented towards research and the other, towards industry.

They also discussed introducing “multidisciplinary” and “blended MTechs” across IITs, focussing on “product-based programmes without the need for publishing papers”, the meeting records show.

But the final recommendations seek only a reform of the MTech across all IITs and the establishment of committees to keep track of the changes and report to Pradhan and the council.

IIT Research: ‘Product PhDs’

Led by IIT Ropar, the council discussed the “need to reposition IIT PhD programmes as engines of innovation, leadership, and global competitiveness”, that is, aligning research more closely with industry.

The IITs discussed “embedding” scholars within “mission-driven frameworks” like quantum technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), climate resilience, and defence. The goal is a shift toward “product PhDs” – where research leads to products and patents – currently slowed by the emphasis on publication metrics in institutional rankings and other assessments.

The presentation shared at the meeting also addressed the issue of “prolonged PhD durations, administrative delays, limited mentorship, and under-utilised infrastructure”, say the minutes.

IIT Ropar proposed a “shift to a project-first PhD model” with a focus on “ structured timelines, predefined research goals' and industry collaboration” as well as the “networked PhD programme” concept across the IITs and with international universities to foster multidisciplinary research. Having “doctoral academies” in IITs to mentor was also discussed.

However, the IIT Council ultimately recommended having internal committees in the IITs to conduct baseline surveys of new PhD joinees and map outcomes; IIT Kanpur will define the outcomes.

The internal committees will also focus on improving the quality of students being drawn for PhDs. Finally, the education ministry will set up a sub-committee to “propose a detailed framework to further promote product based PhDs in IITs”.

Prime Minister Research Chair in IITs ‘soon’

Govind Jaiswal, joint secretary, ministry of education said a Prime Minister Research Chair (PMRC) scheme that will support 120 Young and Senior Research Fellows and Research Chairs over five years will be set up. He suggested that the scheme will focus on Indian “priority sectors” including semiconductors, AI, clean energy, and advanced materials.

“The council was made aware of the in-principle agreement for the Prime Minister Research Chair Scheme, with the understanding that the initiative will be launched soon in a structured, large-scale way to attract and engage global talent of Indian origin,” says the meeting record.

The council also discussed the impact of AI on research and student well-being and suggested that each of the 23 IITs establish an “institute-wide AI Task Force” focussed on AI integration in the engineering curriculum. IIT Kanpur will lead this task, say the minutes.