IIT Mandi to offer executive program in Data Science, AI: Director

Among the second-generation IITs, IIT Mandi has one of the best research facilities and labs. In terms of infrastructure, the facilities at IIT Mandi can cater to the needs of 2,500 students, says IIT Mandi Director Laxmidhar Behera during an interaction with Shiksha.com.

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi has received 249 job offers from 88 companies this year. Of these, 19 are international offers. The highest salary recorded this year is INR 60 lakh and the average salary is INR 26 lakh for B.Tech students. The institute is now looking forward to another year of strong placements. 

Shiksha.com caught up with IT Mandi Director Laxmidhar Behera wherein he talks about giving an interdisciplinary flavour to the curriculum, his plans to build a strong foundation for the institute and more. Below are the excerpts from the interview. 

Q. Are you planning any curriculum overhaul at IIT Mandi?

A. We did a complete overhaul of IIT Mandi curriculum in 2022, and incorporated the agenda of the National Education Policy 2020 to it. With the new curriculum, we have given maximum emphasis to the student interest in terms of their future planning, multiple exit process, and courses from the Indian Knowledge System have been integrated into the curriculum. IIT Mandi is among the very few IITs where emphasis on experiential learning is given where students ‘learn by doing.’

We have introduced a compulsory course called, ‘Foundations of Design Practicum’, in the first year for our students which gives them a complete overview of how a product is designed and prototyped. With this, the first-year students learn how to break down a problem statement and apply technological interventions to solve it. By learning this in their very first course, the students learn skills that can be applied in any domain or industry.  

The unique practicum-based learning curriculum of IIT Mandi has been designed taking into consideration the current and future changes in society and the nature of technology. Another example of this is the design practicum course that helps students in building strong foundations in a range of interdisciplinary engineering knowledge domains. 

Also, the curriculum overhaul is a continuous process. We are building in an interdisciplinary flavour to our curriculum. In the past year, we have created new centres, including the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR); Indian Knowledge System and Mental Health Applications Centre (IKSMHA), and the Centre for Sustainable Development (CSD) among others, where students are getting interdisciplinary flavour in terms of both teaching and research. 

Q. IITs are no longer just science and technology institutes. They have started focusing on non-engineering courses such as humanities, arts and social science. Are you also planning something in this direction?

A. Since its inception, IIT Mandi has had a School of Humanities and Social Sciences, which currently hosts 13 faculty members working in areas such as sociology, economics, history, literature and translation studies, etc. The school offers an MA program in Development Studies and a PhD program. Under the curriculum overhaul, we have put in place a process by which more exposure of humanities is being given to our BTech. students. For example, last semester, we invited an Odissi dancer and about 300 students learnt this forgotten art. This time, our students will get an opportunity to learn filmmaking from a world-renowned expert, David Shapiro.

The Indian Knowledge System has a substantial humanities component at IIT Mandi and we have a compulsory course titled ‘Introduction to Consciousness and Holistic Wellbeing’ for the first year students. We believe that knowledge of humanities, arts, and social sciences is very important for students as it helps in developing communication skills, team spirit, and in building the character. 

Q. Are there any expansion plans in terms of building more infrastructure, campus, facilities such as labs, innovation centres, etc?

A. Among the second-generation IITs, IIT Mandi has the best research facilities and labs. In terms of infrastructure, the facilities at IIT Mandi can cater to the needs of 2,500 students. As the next step, we have got a sanction of INR 333 crore to build infrastructure, including hostels, academic buildings, dedicated lecture hall complex, and increase our facilities that can cater to the needs of 5,000 students, double than what it is at the moment.

Q. Many IITs received good placement offers despite economic uncertainty in 2022. How was the placement season at IIT Mandi?

A. Last year, IIT Mandi recorded 97 per cent campus placement and this year we have already recorded the placement of 249 students in 88 companies. Out of these, 19 are international offers. The highest salary recorded this year is INR 60 lakh and the average salary recorded is INR 26 lakh for BTech. students. We are looking forward to another year of strong placement at IIT Mandi.

Some of the top companies that have participated this year in IIT Mandi’s placement drive include Microsoft, Amazon, CodeNation, Goldman Sachs, DEShaw, ServiceNow, Domino Data Lab, Razorpay, Oyo Rooms, Publicis Sapients, 1mg, BOSCH, Tonichi Insatsu, SMS DataTech, Works Application, Toppr, Samsung Delhi, Mathworks, Marvell Semiconductors, OLX People, and L&T, among others. 

Q. IITs are launching full-time degree and certification courses in artificial intelligence. What about IIT Mandi?

A. At IIT Mandi, we have a full-fledged BTech program in data science. Along with this, in collaboration with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), we are offering online data science courses. Besides, we are in the process of starting an executive program in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence to cater to the industry demands.

Q. Is IIT Mandi funded adequately?

A. Being a centrally funded institute, IIT Mandi is adequately funded. The world-class infrastructure of the campus has been built with INR 1,060 crore and further expansion is in progress. On the research front, our faculty members are continuously working on world-class research both independently as well as in collaboration with national and international collaborators. As a result, to date, IIT Mandi has received research projects worth more than INR 150 crore and has established around 120 collaborations with national and international universities, institutes and industries.

Q. IIT graduates are being laid off by big companies. IIT Mandi graduate was also recently sacked by tech giant Amazon. What do you have to say about that?

A. We at IIT Mandi train our students with skills that make them all-rounders with specific skills in the domain of their learning. The Career and Placement Cell of IIT Mandi counsels our students and makes sure such situations of uncertainty are handled in the best way possible. With proper education and skills, students can have multiple career opportunities for a secure future. We also try to get core sector companies to hire our students for core jobs.

Q. IIT Mandi is doing a lot of work in Himachal and adjoining areas, how is it helping the local community?

A. Being situated in Himachal Pradesh, we aspire to work on the development of the Himachali people. We have proposed multiple projects centric to the region such as drone-based communications in the case of natural disasters like landslides and cloud bursts; climate-controlled agriculture where we can create a skilled workforce for potential entrepreneurial opportunities to maximise their profits from the existing land in the region using technology-driven agriculture.

In addition to this, our faculty members are also working on multiple projects for the sustainable development of the region. Some of these projects include research on bioenergy and development of bio-medicines, among others. Along with this, we are also focusing on innovative interventions to improve the tourism sector in the state. 

Q. Some IITs are setting up offshore campuses. Is IIT Mandi also thinking of doing so in future?

A. Considering we are a second generation IIT, our prime focus is to build a strong foundation for the institute. In the future if this opportunity comes, we will look into it.

Q. What steps you have taken towards strengthening industry-academia collaborations?

A. As a part of our outreach program, we are in constant touch with the industry for potential collaboration. We already are collaborating with multiple industry partners for R&D and academic work. In addition to this, we are in discussions with an industry partner for setting up a data science lab at the institute.

Along with this, we are also considering setting up a research park at IIT Mandi to provide proper space to the industry partners for major collaborations. IIT Mandi has always focused on establishing a strong connection with the industry.

Q. Any suggestions you would like to give to the aspiring students?

A. Students must work on understanding their strengths and acquire skills as per their aspirations. Focusing on skill-based learning will make you capable for the challenges of tomorrow.

One should also keep looking for entrepreneurial opportunities. It will not only help in creating a unique career path for the students but will also take them to an interesting journey from being a job seeker to a job creator. There are multiple sectors such as agriculture, education, entertainment, and healthcare, among others, that have unending opportunities. Learn to reinforce your strengths and success will follow. 

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