Challenges faced by IITs – Too many IITs lead to unrealistic expectations and quality problems

Source: The post challenges faced by IITs has been created, based on the article “Too many IITs lead to unrealistic expectations and quality problems” published in “The Hindu”  and the article “IIT Madras Zanzibar: what does it mean to be an IIT outside India?” published in “Indian express” on 14th February 2024.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS paper2- governance-Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education

News: The article discusses the expansion of Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and how it might lower their quality. It suggests limiting the number of IITs, focusing on international collaboration, and improving faculty recruitment to maintain their high standards. Challenges faced by IITs

How have the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) evolved?

Geographical and Technological Unity: The Nalini Ranjan Sarkar Committee in the 1940s envisioned IITs in different regions to create a united technological landscape across India. They were meant to be distinctly Indian, differentiating from older institutions like those in Madras, Roorkee, and Shibpur.

Initial Western Collaboration: The first IITs (Kharagpur, Bombay, Madras, Kanpur, and later Delhi) were established with Western assistance. Despite their national focus, they embraced a universal approach to technology, seeing it as acultural.

Expansion: From 5 original institutes, the IIT system has grown to 23 institutions. It took 34 years after establishing IIT Delhi to open IIT Guwahati in 1994, but 17 more were added rapidly after that.

Diversification of Education: Initially focused on technology and engineering, IITs later included humanities and social sciences, especially after the 2020 National Education Policy emphasized multidisciplinary education.

International Perspectives and Collaboration: Leaders like Heinrich Lübke and President S Radhakrishnan advocated for global knowledge sharing, supported by the Dr K Radhakrishnan Committee. Consequently, IITs began admitting foreign students and planning overseas campuses. The first one, in Zanzibar, Tanzania, is an extension of IIT Madras.

What are the challenges faced by IITs?

Expansion Strain: The increase from 5 to 23 IITs raises concerns about maintaining quality standards. Especially, newer IITs in smaller towns struggle with infrastructure and academic excellence.

Faculty Shortages: For example, IIT Dhanbad has filled only 301 out of 781 approved faculty positions, indicating a widespread issue across the institutions.

Infrastructure Challenges: Newer IITs lack world-class facilities, affecting their ability to provide top-tier education and research.

Isolation from Local Communities: IITs, primarily academic-focused, have limited engagement with their local regions, missing out on community collaboration.

Struggle to Attract Global Talent: While IITs are selective and prestigious, attracting international students and faculty remains a challenge. This is crucial for global recognition and collaboration.

Balancing National and Global Roles: As IITs expand globally, there’s a challenge in balancing their foundational role of serving the national interest with the new global outlook, particularly in setting up campuses abroad.

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What should be done?

Restrict the Number of IITs: Limit IITs to around 10-12, ideally near major cities, to focus resources and maintain quality.

Improve Faculty Recruitment: Address faculty shortages, possibly by liberalizing recruitment rules to attract more foreign faculty.

Infrastructure Development: Enhance the infrastructure in new IITs, especially those in smaller towns, to ensure they are on par with the older, established IITs.

Focus on International Collaboration: Rather than establishing campuses abroad, emphasize deeper collaboration with top global universities, as per the article’s suggestion.

International Student Enrollment: Develop strategies to attract more international students, thereby enhancing the global profile of the IITs.

Consistent and Adequate Funding: Ensure sustained and adequate funding, both from government and alumni philanthropy, to support the high standards of education and research at the IITs.

Question for practice:

Examine the historical evolution of Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the challenges they currently face.