IIT Kharagpur to Enhance Alumni Interaction

Source: Business Standard, January 31, 2003

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur is planning to create a post of the status of dean to enhance interaction between alumni and the institute, Sanjeev Goenka, the chairman of board of governors of IITK said in Kolkata on Thursday.

Speaking to the media before the 48th annual convocation scheduled for February 3, Goenka said efforts were being made to pave the way for greater co-operation from alumni.

"We not looking at the alumni for funds alone - they can contribute more meaningfully in recruitment of faculty, admissions of foreign students and placements overseas besides help in research and development (R&D)," Goenka said.

"Our aim is to make IITK, which has been chosen as the best engineering college in India in the last two years, the preferred destination for students across the globe. To achieve that target, we need to create world class faculty. IITK has decided to recruit faculty throughout the year," Goenka said.

The process to expand number of seats from 3500 to 5000 by 2005 and also the number of faculty from 520 to at least 600 has been set in motion, Shishir K Dube, director of IITK, said.

"We have set the target of becoming self sufficient in terms of resources. For that partnership with industry is very important. We need to invest in R&D and earn by transferring technology to industry," Dubey pointed out.

The institute has identified 13 areas where R&D has been taken up. Director said major funding would be needed in areas molecular biology, photonics, nano science and technology.

Five areas where considerable progress has been made are VLSI design, land restoration through fly ash utlisation, participatory forest management, coalnet software, space and defense missions.

Dube mentioned some major initiatives already been taken by alumni. Arjun Malhotra, chairman and CEO of TechSpan Inc, had contributed generously for setting up campus communication network and the ultra modern VLSI laboratory. Vinod Gupta had set up the school of management there.

IITK has transferred five technologies this year and applied for 170 patents. The institute has generated revenue of Rs 35 crore from sponsored research this year.

Government support was to the tune of Rs 50 crore. IITK also invested over Rs 50 crore this year to build infrastructure and facilities.