Coronavirus: IIT-IIM contingency plans to shorten last semesters, interactive online courses

In the wake of the

In the wake of the closure of campuses around the country due to COVID-19 pandemic, top educational institutes are preparing emergency plans to tackle the challenges ahead. They are considering a number of options, including limiting last semesters to interactive online courses and modules, to evade the extension of academic works to the next year. A number of private schools are slated to commence new academic session this week, with online classes and modules. The government-run Kendriya Vidyalayas are referring specialists to work out both online and offline formats. At several IITs, the spring semester is being moved up and a June academic schedule is being chalked out.

According to IIT Delhi director V Ramagopal Rao, the institute was working on a contingency plan under which a condensed last semester may be held on campus at whatever time the lockdown is lifted. IIT Kharagpur has preponed its summer vacation and rearranged its spring-summer semester to June 1.

On the other hand, talking about the IIMs, a meeting of the IIM Coordination Forum is scheduled to take place on April 15 to take stock of the situation. IIM Calcutta has postponed its MBA programme, the Executive MBA as well as the PGPEX-VLM which has been rescheduled to commence on April 20 in place of April 8. It plans to hold courses in an online mode if necessary. According to IIM Ahmedabad director Errol D’Souza, the institute was looking at more interactive technology solutions. According to IIM Calcutta director Anju Seth, a late start of about two weeks is envisioned in the academic calendar.

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