S. Vishnu Sharma
IIT Guwahati has turned centre of attraction with actively engaging in motivating students to pursue STEM subjects in higher education.
This is being done by IIT Guwahati in collaboration with Government of Assam under its flagship scheme ‘Arohan.’
The Institute has successfully hosted 3311 students (2009 girls and 1302 boys) and few hundred mentee teachers, inspiring them to explore the vast opportunities and interests in STEM education.
Notably, the number of girl students was around 65% of the total participants, highlighting the importance of encouraging and promoting girl/women in STEM education, say sources from IIT Guwahati.
Program
Arohan, conceived as a Mentor-Mentee program for secondary class students in Government schools, is an initiative championed by the visionary Chief Minister of Assam, Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Operating under the umbrella of Samagra Shiksha Assam, this flagship program encompasses diverse activities, including mentoring, exposure trips, competitions, and interactions tailored for the career progression of government school students in classes 9th to 12th.
Hosting
Within the framework of the Arohan scheme, IIT Guwahati has hosted meritorious students (Mentees) along with their Guide teachers/Officers in a total of 12 batches.
During their visit to IIT Guwahati, these students had the opportunity to engage with institute faculty members, interact with students, and explore institutional facilities.
Coordinated by the Offices of Outreach Education Program (OEP), Public Relations Branding and Ranking (PRBR) and Students’ Affairs at IIT Guwahati, these events took place during their four/five-days stay on campus from October to December 2023.
Participation
Speaking about IIT Guwahati’s participation in the Arohan scheme, Prof. A. S. Achalkumar, Dean, Outreach Education Program, IIT Guwahati, said, “Arohan program is fully residential program for the meritorious students of Assam at IIT Guwahati.
Under this, the students visit various higher educational Institutions, research Institutes, laboratories to get exposure, apart from the interaction with IIT Faculty as well as students.
This is a great investment on our future, and for IIT Guwahati it is a way to contribute to the society. We hope that once they go back to their homes, many of them will try their best to come back to IIT Guwahati as students along with their friends.”
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During the interactive session, students engaged in extensive discussions with 33 IIT Guwahati faculty members.
The topics covered included JEE preparation strategies, research in basic sciences, academic programs at IITs, and the Common Entrance Examination for Design.
These interactions aimed to instill a sense of scientific and technological enthusiasm among the gifted students, say sources from IIT Guwahati.
Initiative
Speaking about Arohan initiative, Mr. Ayan Dutta, Dhekial, Higher Secondary School said, ”I am grateful to the government for giving us this exposure.
This initiative is especially beneficial to brilliant students who have big dreams but may be economically weaker.
The vibrant discussions here at IIT Guwahati will help us in our future career, he said.
Experience
Speaking about her experience during the interaction, Ms. Kristi Bora, Rangmahal High School, said ,“Being a part of these sessions has taught me so much, and now, I dream of studying at IIT Guwahati.
I’m determined to put in the effort and work hard to turn this dream into a reality, she said.
Involvement
Prof. Parameswar K. Iyer, Dean, Public Relations Branding and Ranking, IIT Guwahati spoke about the institution’s involvement in STEM Education promotion and the Arohan scheme.
He said this Arohan program conceived by the Chief Minister of Assam and was entrusted to the institution as a fully residential program for the meritorious students from remotest places of Assam to be hosted at IIT Guwahati.
This is done to so that exposure to world class facilities, interactions with brightest students and visits to state-of-the-art laboratories and academics can be provided to these students.
We have been working very closely with the education department of Assam and have initiated several important STEM initiatives including this Arohan program.
We hope to contribute to imbibe quality STEM education and amenities to students and teachers including making them aware of the best opportunities available to them at IITG and other institutes.
Students
Students from 29 districts of Assam including Nagaon, Hojai, Udalguri, Darrang, Biswanath, Sonitpur, Jorhat, Dima Hasao, Baksa, W.K. Anglong, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Hailakandi, SS Mankachar, Barpeta, Karimganj, Kokrajhar, Lakhimpur, Majuli, Cachar, Kamrup(M), Nalbari, Morigaon, Bongaigaon, Goalpara, Karbi Anglong, Tinsukia, Chirang, Dhubri, benefitted from this program.
Additionally, the students and their mentees explored various educational and cultural sites, including the IIT Guwahati academic and research facilities, Biotechnology Park, Planetarium, State Zoo, Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra, Regional Science Centre, and Assam Administrative Staff College.