S. Vishnu Sharma
New students of IIT Madras for the academic year 2020-21 took part in the orientation session online for the first time.
Parents also attended the event organized to welcome the New students of IIT Madras, the first year students of B.Tech, Dual Degree and M.A.
New students of IIT Madras undergo great orientation
The orientation programme for New students of IIT Madras was held on the evening of 12 October and was webcast live on YouTube.
The Academic year for the incoming students will commence on Monday, 16 November.
New students of IIT Madras comprised a total of 938 B.Tech students, 175 dual degree students and 52 MA students
These New students of IIT Madras have been admitted for the Academic Year 2020-21.
IIT Madras director Professor Bhaskar Ramamurthi speaking at the orientation programme for New students of IIT Madras said they have one of the most flexible academic curriculum in the system in India and anywhere in the world.
‘In all programs and all departments, at least 40 per cent of your courses are electives and half of these courses, you can opt for any elective in the Institute.’
The rest of the electives will have some restrictions but you (students) will still get to choose, he said.
Professor Ramamurthi speaking further at the orientation programme for New students of IIT Madras said taking advantage of this flexibility, they have been offering, since 2018, many options for students to upgrade to a dual degree in an interdisciplinary M.Tech. program by spending one more year.
Students can continue to do their B.Tech. in whatever branch they had selected, and from their fourth year, this sandwich program starts and students can upgrade to a M.Tech, he said.
These M.Tech. courses are in several new, emerging and interesting interdisciplinary areas such as data science, robotics, computational engineering, quantum science and technology, biomedical engineering, nanotechnology and energy systems, among other areas.
More and more such programs are being created by IIT Madras faculty and will be offered in the years to come.
The first batch of 50 students to avail this upgrade option graduated this year. In the current batch, almost 120 students opted to upgrade.
Students have to have a good CGPA but statistically, these upgrades are available to almost 40 per cent of the students.
We were the first IIT, and till now the only one, in the country to have a full-fledged large Research Park next to the campus, said Professor Ramamurthi during the orientation programme for New students of IIT Madras.
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It hosts nearly 100 companies and more than 200 start-ups, which provides opportunities for students to intern with global and Indian companies and start-ups.
This is another unique opportunity to IIT Madras. We are the most innovative institute in the country and bagged No: 1 rank twice in a row in Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA), Ministry of Education, said Professor Bhaskar Ramamurthi at the orientation programme for New students of IIT Madras.
Chairman of IIT Madras library Professor K. Ramamurthy explained to the New students of IIT Madras about the facilities in the library of IIT Madras.
He also explained how students can access the library remotely.
Professor V. Jagadeesh Kumar, Dean (Academic Courses) at IIT Madras explained about the IIT Madras credit system.
Speaking at the orientation programme for New students of IIT Madras Professor Jagadeesh said students are free to choose 72 credits from anywhere, including from other institutions.
The academic section website will offer all details to the students.
Due to COVID-19 pandemic, the first year of 2020 batch of B.Tech., Dual Degree and M.A. students will follow a Trimester pattern in place of the usual two semester per academic year, he said speaking at the orientation programme for New students of IIT Madras.
All classes will be held online (initially) and all relevant information will be shared through the Institute students email system called ‘Smail’
Professor V. Jagadeesh also explained about the ‘upgrade’ options for students at the orientation programmed for New students of IIT Madras and added that more courses will be offered by the time students come to campus, probably next year.
Professor Nilesh J. Vasa, dean (students) at IIT Madras explaining about the institute to the New students of IIT Madras said that there are more than 300 laboratories with cutting edge technologies at IIT Madras.
It also hosts four national as well as ten institute research centres. The Institute has numerous collaborations and partnerships with the industry.
The state-of-the-art Central Library has a vast collection of books and also provides access to e-books and e-journals, said Professor Vasa.
Professor Vasa also briefed the New students of IIT Madras about the Wellness Community Center and other initiatives to help students cope with mental health issues.
Speaking about the student life at IIT Madras Mr. Aman Kumar, Student General Secretary at IIT Madras said IIT Madras is an ocean of opportunities and you are in the best place.
The first year students will have a mentor, who is a senior student at IIT Madras and will provide guidance on academics and clear your doubts as well.
One most important thing is to check your smails at least once a day as this semester is being conducted online.
Please feel free to reach out to the professors and seniors for help, he said speaking at the orientation programme for New students of IIT Madras.
Others who addressed the rientation for New students of IIT Madras were Professor Dillip Kumar Chand, Chairman, UG Admissions Committee 2020, Professor Edamana Prasad, Vice-Chairman, JEE (Advanced) 2020 and Professor K. Ramamurthy, Chairman, Library, IIT Madras.