NIT Srinagar to start integrated BTech-MBA programme from 2023-24 academic year

NIT Srinagar shall be introducing MTech in computer science and engineering and MSc in mathematics with an intake capacity of 30 seats each from the 2023-24 academic year, says NIT Srinagar Director Rakesh Sehgal during an interaction with Shiksha.com.

The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar has a proposal to revise the tuition fee for MBA programme from INR 2,50,000 to 1,00,000 per semester which will be implemented from next academic session (Spring 2023). Shiksha.com caught up with NIT Srinagar Director Rakesh Sehgal wherein he talks about the new courses that the institute is planning to introduce, the current placement statistics, the steps they are taking to boost industry-academia partnerships and more. Below are the excerpts from the interview. 

 Q. Are you planning to introduce any new course or increase additional seats in the existing courses at the NIT Srinagar?

A. NIT Srinagar shall be introducing MTech in computer science and engineering and MSc in mathematics with an intake capacity of 30 seats each from the 2023-24 academic year.

Moreover, NIT Srinagar has previously introduced two MSc programmes in physics and chemistry, two MTech programmes in power electronics and electrical drives and also in thermal engineering along with masters of technology innovation and entrepreneurial management (MTIEM) and an MBA programme in the past five years. In addition to the above, NIT Srinagar also intends to start the new integrated BTech-MBA programme from the 2023-24 academic year.

Q. NIT Srinagar has received a grant of INR 1.06 crore from the Department of Science and Technology under the Fund for Improvement of Science and Technology (FIST). For what purpose will the grant be used?

A. The larger goal is to develop infrastructure for establishing a clean environmental and geotechnical instrumentation centre. From this FIST grant, Microwave Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (MP-AES) machine will be procured.  MP-AES is used to detect heavy metals since heavy metal analysis is crucial to understand the pollution dynamics in sub-surface, surface water, and industrial pollution. And to investigate the dynamic response of soil and soil-like materials, static-cum-cyclic triaxial with bender element machine will also be purchased. Each of these machinescosts around INR 45 lakh.

In addition to this, we have currently two other international collaborative projects under implementation stage. 

• Indo-Uzbek (India- Uzbekistan): It involves development and characterization of nano thermo-plast (polypropylene)/thermo-reactive (epoxy resin)/nano filler composites and polymer coatings. 
• Indo-Russia (NIT, Srinagar- Russian Academy of Science): Development of wear resistant coatings for high-temperature application in space.

Q. NIT Srinagar was recently felicitated for upgrading to the Regional Centre of Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers (IIChE). How will it help students?

A. The upgradation of the Department of Chemical Engineering from Student Chapter to a Regional Centre, would provide a platform to the department to depict its national presence more effectively. Students would also get an exposureto seminars, webinars, workshops and conferences sponsored by IIChE besides helping them in practical training in core chemical industries. The students would also be eligible for fundings from IIChE under various categories for taking up final year projects and would be eligible for awards as well under various categories notified by the IIChE from time to time.

Q. Technology business incubation centre named Greenovator incubation Foundation is coming up at NIT Srinagar. Please tell us in detail about it.

A> Greenovator Incubation Foundation is a Section 8 company to promote innovations, incubation, entrepreneurship, and start-ups ecosystem in the region. It is a full-fledged innovations and technology transfer enterprise incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013 (18 of 2013) with the main objective to promote research, social welfare, innovations, commerce, art, science, sports, education, and the protection of the environment or any such other object, provided that the profits, if any, or the other income is applied for promoting only the objects of the company. No dividend is paid to its members of the company.

The requisite funding to develop ideas, innovations and technologies would subsequently be obtained from agencies such as DST, CSIR, NSTMIS, SERB, donations, alumni funding, etc. Greenovator would also support the state and central departments and agencies in solving multiple problems such as conservation of water bodies, air pollution, and other such challenges faced by the citizens of the region.  

Greenovator Incubation would have three focus areas-  

1. AgriTech will include technologies relating to horticulture, floriculture, food processing, animal husbandry and dairy farming besides agriculture. 
2. EnviroTech related to water, air and other variants of pollution and ecological challenges. 
3. AlterTech will pertain to the development as well as modernization on the industrial front.

Q. How was the placement season at NIT Srinagar?

A. The ongoing placement session for the class of 2023 at NIT Srinagar started in August 2022 and has been highly successful so far, with 670 plus job offers from more than 80 companies in just the first six months of the placement session. This is a significant increase from the previous year placement session, which saw 550 plus total job offers. The increase in the number of offers is a testament to the quality of education and training provided at NIT Srinagar and the institute’s efforts to strengthen its industry-academia partnerships and by the end of this session, in May 2023, we are expecting to see a hike in this number.

The institute’s focus on career development programs, internship opportunities, joint research, and development programs, and alumni networks has played a significant role in the successful placement of students in the class of 2023. 

Q. Are there any plans to revise fee structure?

A. The tuition fee for BTech/MTech/MSc are set at the ministry level and are uniform for all NITs. However, NIT Srinagar has a proposal to revise the tuition fee for MBA programme from INR 2,50,000 to 1,00,000 per semester which will be implemented from next academic session (Spring 2023).

Q. What is the proportion of male to female enrolment at NIT Srinagar? What steps have you taken to improve gender equality at the institute?

A. NIT Srinagar has total 4,170 students enrolled in UG/PG/PhD Programmes out of which 3,208 are male students and 962 are female students. It is important to mention that from 2018 onwards, 20 per cent female-supernumerary seats have been reserved every academic year in BTech programmes in J&K, Ladakh and other state quotas. 

Q. What steps have you taken to boost industry-academia partnerships at NIT Srinagar?

A. We at NIT Srinagar have always been on the forefront to boost industry-academia partnerships. This has ben achieved at various levels by following steps:

Industry-academia meetups: 

We regularly organise industry-academia meet-ups to bridge the gap between industry and academia. These meet-ups enable industry professionals to interact with students, faculty, and researchers at NIT Srinagar and explore opportunities for collaboration. The meet-ups also 

provide an opportunity for students to learn about the latest industry trends, technologies, and requirements. NIT Srinagar, in collaboration with various industries, has organised a number of industrial visits for students of all branches throughout the year. 

Internship programs: 

At NIT Srinagar, we offer a six-month internship to students in the eighth semester, which enables them to work with leading companies and gain valuable experience. The Department of Training and Placement has setup a student internship committee to ensure that the students get the best internship offers from industry. 

Guest Lectures and Workshops: 

We invite industry experts to deliver guest lectures and conduct workshops for students at NIT Srinagar. These lectures and workshops help students to learn about the latest industry trends, technologies, and best practices.  

Career Development Programs: 

We have arranged a number of career development programs to help students prepare for the recruitment process. These programs include resume/CV building workshops, mock interviews, group discussions, and aptitude tests. We also invite industry professionals to conduct placement training sessions for students and provide them with feedback on their performance.  

Alumni networks: 

Our strong alumni network has been instrumental in building closer ties between academia and 

industry. This year, some of our alumni, working in companies such as Blog Vault, ZS, and Tata Elxsi visited our institute, and the Department of Training and Placement organiaed their interactions with the students to help 

them in their career progression. 

Incubation centre:  

The Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship Development Centre NIT Srinagar (IIEDC) has been promoting innovations and entrepreneurship within and outside the campus. The centre is facilitating industry-academia interactions and transfer of knowledge to increase the technology quotient in the businesses operating within the region.  

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