Not me, but it’s PM’s scientific adviser, C N Rao who says this
“Opening so may IITs in one year is a disaster. I had no idea that so many IITs have already come up in our country.This is not a play. To open IITs, you need proper planning. There are makeshift campuses and some are even attending classes in old IITs” [ET]
6 new IITs (in Orissa, Bihar, Rajasthan, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh) were started last year (totaling the number to 13) and as expected, govt. is least interested in keeping a quality check on these IITs.
Infact, the most significant challenge with older IITs was the lack of incentives for professors to stick around – the widening gap between academics and industry too leaves no room for even alumni’s to go back and teach.
The older IITs faced these challenges (and let me share that many of the amazing professors have retired and the newer breed is just not capable enough), and newer ones will just add to the mediocrity that’s creeping in the system.
Thanks to our politicians.
What’s your opinion?
On a non-serious note; if IIT + T = 0, what is ‘I’? (used to be a ragging question! quite silly though.) – any guesses?
Obviously more the number of these “elite” institutions, lesser is the brand value.
Hey Ashish,
Nice post, Why only worry about IIT. We have created many such factories of un-hirable graduates. Have you ever interviewed an engineer from UP-tech university or any university from Chattisgarh. MBA graduates from IIPMs / Amity etc is another classic example.
Only 2-3% out of a batch become potential hires from these colleges.
-Harish
I can’t say anything but to agree with you on this. your post hits the bulls eye. Saying this, I am not so concerned with the elite instiutions. I am more worried at the mid school/high school levels.
If IIT’s find it difficult to find good faculty, think of the teachers at the school level. I was fortunate to have some great teachers, but can we say the same today, what will be the future 10years from now.
The whole education system in India is on the edge, we need to save it. HOW???
Its a sad state of affairs that started with increasing the reservation and now opening of new IITs. People like Nehru were visionaries who created the IIT system and kept it away from bureaucracy, and now when the brand is created, the new political system is trying to encash it even if that means brand dilution.
No matter how much you hate it, there is nothing one can do about it, because we can’t put the buses on fire like the gujjars did in rajasthan. And unfortunately that the only language govt understands.
And iit + t = 0 because ii = -1, i being iota
On that note, tell me what does iLife mean? It means Life is complex
@Ramjee
Impressed to see your concern. I plan to work something in this direction during my next sabbatical . Although I have some crude thoughts even today time shortage
@Ashish,
Hmmm I know what ‘I’ is all about
I myself have asked this Qn while minimal ragging I have done. Hint: iota.
the random quote that came to me in this page “Whatever is produced in haste goes hastily to waste.”
Now,even the IIT brand will also be seen with a pinch of skepticism in the industry..isn’t it ?… and the guys to be blamed are obvious..
Ashish,
True. With these institutions doling out mediocre grads each year (by diluting the entry requirements – ie by increasing supply), there is also a huge chance of the value of these institutions being eroded overseas. IITs are like the elite of the elite even in the US, what will be the impact of such a move on their perception overseas?
Cheers
Sri
BTW: is “I” in IIT = i = sqrt(-1)? so either “Indian” or “Institute” or both are imaginary??
It took ~40-50 years to build the brand, and thanks to our politicians – we will see the brand erosion starting 2012.!
@Sri You get the trophy!! i = sqrt(-1)
And iiT would be = absence of (-1) technology
Institutions like IITs are built over time.
And they started 6 more. Just like that. Wtf?
Before pushing the button to start anything like this illiterate politicians should know that its top quality faculty that will ensure everything. I will agree for makeshift arrangements but what about faculty?? Getting right teachers is the fundamental problem to be solved… Infrastructure comes second and then comes time.
See how this is going to be.. NITs have 95% stray teachers ( Believe me they are not even capable of being hired by infy or patni!!) And these teachers will be moved to these new IITs. Then situation is going to be worse for both NITs and upcoming IITs.
Instead of doing anything like this it would have been better to let some industry leaders take care of new institutes.
But who will do the votebank politics then!.
Mr. Atal Bihari turned all RECs to NITs with a vision. He did it well over time. Got great Directors for all institutions and provided enough money to them to change things. Congress came to power and all these Directors were sacked ( if you remember) for some silly reason.
IIT brand name is working and they started mass producing it!! Without paying any attention to the process that actually made the brand name.
God! Give some common sense to our politicians.
India is a country with great potential but it continues to get fucked up due to the dumb and illiterate policymakers. In spite of having Man Mohan Singh as the PM, such shit is still happening.
Democracy is all crap. We need a smart dictator probably.
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Bilding new IITs will surely not be in favour of the brand name of the institution. Some one raised a term called “dilution” which fits very appropriately in this.There are kids out there who actually go for preperation for IITs than to go for NITs or UPTU colleges. It’s a disaster which will be carnated on everyone taking admissions after new IIT formation. Obviously it will lower the level of respect and esteem one expecte from an IITian, which is something to think about for the HR who agreed for this.
This is rubbish….the creation of the new IITs the need of the hour…
Of course they r gonna dilute the “Brand IIT” but they are also going to give the nation more quality Grads..and Researchers…Increasing seats in the existing IITs would have put more and Avoidable burden on their infrastructure…They are by no reason a “Disaster”…!