To bring research to the forefront in the IITs and increase its role in national development projects, the government today set up a committee which will suggest a broad roadmap for the institutes for the next 10 years.
The five-member committee, to be headed by Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar, will give its report in six months outlining the broad areas of reforms required for the elite institutes to make them global brands.
“They will suggest how the IITs need to move forward. The committee will specify on how to give more emphasis on research and how the IITs can be more involved in the national projects for development,” HRD Minister Kapil Sibal told reporters after the IIT Council meeting.
He said that the committee will come up with the vision document for 2020 for the IITs. The document will suggest measures on how the IITs can collaborate with private sector in IT, biotech and other emerging areas.
At present, the IITs are mainly focusing on undergraduate level education. The new document will suggest how more students will be interested in research in the IITs and how better faculty will be interested in joining the system.
Mr. Sibal also said the directors and board members of the IITs will be appointed on the basis of the nominations made by an independent collegium.
