Innovation in Education: IIT Roorkee Launches Advanced Curriculum for Post-Graduates

IIT Roorkee revised its Post-Graduate curriculum to align with NEP 2020, aiming to improve the quality, relevance, and competitiveness of its academic programs. This ensures graduates are well-prepared with essential skills and knowledge for their fields. Get details here 

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee has recently revised its Post-Graduate curriculum aligned with the NEP 2020. The design of the new curriculum is aimed to make students project-oriented and future-ready through cutting–edge projects, coursework, internships and industry interactions. The revision, which came after a decade, was approved by the Senate. It will be implemented from the Autumn Semester of 2024-2025.

The curriculum was revised primarily to improve the quality, relevance, and competitiveness of its offerings, ensuring graduates have the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in their fields. A key focus of the revision is to offer students extensive hands-on learning opportunities. In the updated curriculum, earning credits through laboratory and project work is mandatory, making learning engaging and focused on problem-solving.

The theme of IIT Roorkee Curriculum for Post-Graduates 

The PG curriculum overhaul, a thorough process lasting several months, was guided by the "RISE" theme, symbolizing Research, Interdisciplinary, Societal Connect, and Enrichment of practical knowledge. This theme underscores the institute's commitment to boosting research skills, fostering interdisciplinary education, enhancing societal engagement, and amplifying hands-on knowledge among students.

The revised postgraduate curriculum, garnering interest from academic circles and industry, is seen as innovative and transformative in postgraduate technical education. Key highlights of the curriculum include:

• Flexibility in course selection based on a basket of course offerings, providing students with a wide range of options
• Industrial internships and social activities in the curriculum will provide the students with hands-on experience and exposure to real-world challenges
• Flexibility to choose courses on advanced technology themes such as AI, ML, and Programming languages (e.g., Python, C++, Hadoop, Java), encouraging students to stay abreast of the latest developments in their field
• Interdisciplinary electives, enable students to explore diverse areas of study and gain a holistic understanding of their subject
• Practical/project-based courses and self-learning courses, enhancing students' problem-solving abilities and fostering a spirit of independent learning
• Provision to switch to PhD Programme after earning 40 credits

In revising the curriculum, IIT Roorkee collaborated with internal and external experts, industry representatives, other educational institutions, alumni, and policymakers. The institute adopted innovative and thorough approaches, including stakeholder surveys, brainstorming sessions, open-house debates, workshops, and extensive discussions at multiple levels.

Prof. Apurbba Kumar Sharma, Dean of Academic Affairs, who also led the Postgraduate Curriculum Revision Committee and played the key role in drafting the new curriculum said – “IIT Roorkee has once again demonstrated its leadership in rolling out this futuristic curriculum. The curriculum is unique in the country on many aspects. The committee diligently worked on reviving the students’ interest in the laboratory and project-based work.”

Aligned with NEP-2020's vision for innovative and flexible curricula, the new PG Curriculum introduces three Master's Degree models. Model 1 is a Course-based approach with options from pre-approved course baskets each semester. Model 2, the thesis-based program, combines first-year coursework from pre-approved baskets with second-year thesis research. 

Additionally, a novel M.S. (by Research) model is offered, starting with one semester of coursework followed by research in subsequent semesters. In line with NEP-2020, an exit option is also available for students who have spent at least one year in the program and earned a minimum of 28 credits. They may opt for a different route for their career and shall be provided an exit certificate.

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