NITs to expand BTech student mobility, flexible degrees and AI-focused curriculum

The National Institutes of Technology (NITs) are set to introduce academic flexibility, which will allow BTech students to pursue a semester at another NIT or the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST) Shibpur. 

Under the proposed framework, up to 5% of undergraduate students at each institute could participate in the programme, reports Sheena Sachdeva. 

The Malaviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT) Jaipur will also develop a dedicated student mobility portal to support inter-institute academic exchanges. 

The move is part of a broader set of reforms approved “in principle” by the National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and Research (NITSER) council, which oversees the NIT and IISER network.

NIT Patna on flexible degree pathways, credit transfers

The NITSER council has backed a common multiple-entry and multiple-exit (MEME) framework for NITs and IIESTs. The system will allow students to receive a certificate after completing one year, a diploma after two years and a degree after three or four years. 

Students may also temporarily discontinue their programmes for academic, research, entrepreneurship, employment or medical reasons and return later. Institutes can introduce bridge courses wherever necessary.

The maximum period for completing undergraduate programmes will be seven years, while postgraduate and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) students will have five and eight years, respectively. 

High-performing students may be offered accelerated pathways to complete four-year undergraduate programmes in three years. Semester-long industry internships could also earn academic credits and partly replace classroom learning.

AI, minor degrees, inter-institute learning

The council has asked NITs and IIEST to introduce minor degree programmes in emerging areas and facilitate credit transfers with centrally funded technical institutions through the Academic Bank of Credits.

Each institute will also establish an artificial intelligence (AI) task force to oversee the incorporation of AI and machine learning into academic programmes. The reforms are intended to make the engineering curriculum more responsive to technological and industry developments.

NIT Surathkal: Push for research parks, entrepreneurship

Sheena Sachdeva reports that the council has endorsed NIT Karnataka Surathkal’s innovation and entrepreneurship policy as a model for other institutes, while allowing individual campuses to adapt it to their requirements.

With nearly 400 startups based across five NITs, the council wants a more evenly distributed innovation ecosystem. Thirteen NITs without incubation centres have been asked to establish them within a year, while at least ten NITs and IIEST will begin work on research parks.

The council has also proposed engaging entrepreneurs, unicorn founders and distinguished alumni as mentors and strengthening links with Startup India and Invest India.