When it comes to awarding Institute of Eminence tag, Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) ought to evolve parameters to ensure a level-playing field between IITs and NITs, senior faculty members of National Institute of Technology - Tiruchi (NIT-T) point out.
The NIT-T, for instance, is ranked first among the 31 NITs, and is in the 10th position overall among engineering institutions. The extent of publications in SCOPUs and Web of Science indexed journals is comparable to the best among IITs. While IITs are able to make it to the list of IoE one after the other, leaving out NIT-T in the scheme of things is being viewed as an ‘unfair act’ of MHRD by the faculty members.
Having cemented its pride of place in the comity of leading engineering institutions by establishing the prestigious Siemens Centre of Excellence in Manufacturing, the NIT-T is in the process of establishing a Space Technology Incubation Centre (S-TIC) in collaboration with Indian Space Research Organisation.
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Last year, the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi were granted the IoE status. This year, there were hopes that the case of NIT-T would be considered. Disappointed faculty members, nevertheless, hope that the MHRD will consider NIT-T for the status as a special case taking cognisance of the efforts it has taken to figure high in the QS world rankings.
A government institution chosen for IoE status is entitled to ₹ 1,000 crore grant over a five-year period to achieve world class status.