IITs are preparing for student exchanges, allowing students to study on other IIT campuses...

IITs Student Exchange Program: Undergraduate students studying at IITs across the country may soon have a major opportunity. Preparations are underway to allow students to study for one or two semesters at other IIT campuses in addition to their own, and the course credits taken there will be recognized at their parent IIT. This recommendation was made at the IIT Council meeting held in August last year. The Council has set a target of providing approximately 5 percent of undergraduate students with exchange opportunities between IITs, ensuring seamless credit transfer. The IIT Council is chaired by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The Council comprises the directors of all IITs and the chairpersons of their boards of governors.

Professor Pratap Haridoss, Dean (Academic Courses) at IIT Madras, told The Indian Express that work on this plan is ongoing, and each IIT will need to approve it at its Senate level. Council-level consensus has been reached, but a common document is currently being prepared, requiring the approval of all IITs. The plan can be implemented as soon as individual IITs approve it. Currently, work is in the documentation stage.

He explained that the initial target is for student exchange of approximately 5%, although some practical challenges may arise in implementing this. If an IIT receives more students from abroad than those who do not, hostel capacity may become a challenge.

Benefits of Internships and Electives
This system can also help increase internship opportunities. Until now, most institutes only offered summer internships between May and July, which many students considered limiting. By changing the curriculum, the sixth semester has been designed to include only four electives (chosen subjects). Students can shift these electives to the next or next semester, freeing up the entire sixth semester for internships. If inter-IIT transfers are implemented, students will be able to complete these electives at another IIT.

He added that not every IIT has experts in every subject. Sometimes, a particular IIT offers an elective that is not available at another. This facility will be particularly useful for students who carefully consider their course choices. This will also provide opportunities to focus on other pursuits, such as startups, without compromising their studies.

The Council also recommended that an inter-IIT team, led by IIT Madras, develop a flexible credit sharing framework that could be extended to non-IIT institutions such as NITs, IIITs, IISERs, and NLUs in the future. Implementation guidelines and timelines will also be established.

Professor Haridoss explained that a program is already in place with NITs, in which final-year students come to IIT Madras to complete their last semester there and work with faculty. If both students and faculty are satisfied, they can proceed directly to a PhD program. He added that it will now be examined whether this system needs to be expanded further.

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