In its efforts to become a leading institution for postgraduate teaching and research, IIT Bombay has initiated a comprehensive review of the PhD programme this year aimed at making it more effective, productive and attractive.
“All academic activities will be part of this endeavour and the outcome is expected to have a great impact on our research culture and doctoral programmes,” said IIT Bombay director Devang Khakhar.
The committee, set up for this purpose, will look into all aspects including academic structure of the programmes and course requirements, he said. They are required to come out with suggestions in six months.
Khakhar said emphasis was being put on IIT Bombay’s PG/PhD programmes by increasing the quantum of research and development and by increasing the number of postgraduate students.
“A significant milestone in this regard will be reached by 2014, when two-thirds of the students will be PG and one-third will be UG. It’ll have a major impact in terms of significant research output,” said Khakhar on the sidelines of the institute’s 47th Convocation.
Accordingly, by 2014, the distribution of UG and PG students will be around 2,700 (33%) and 5,500 (66%) respectively. It will also achieve the target of 2,000 PhDs on roll among 8,250 students in 2014-15. In 2008-09, the number of PhD students had risen to 1,508 from 771 in 2001-02, an increase of 96% in seven years.
“A very encouraging aspect of PhD programme has been increase in the PhD output in engineering and in the past three years, 65% of the PhDs is in engineering disciplines,” said Khakhar.
Incentives have been facilitated for doctorate students which includes internships (from a week to a year) at select research institutions in India and abroad.
“We’re trying to go closer to the industry to do relevant research that makes a difference,” said Khakhar.
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