Fifteen students have so far used the early exit option, which also allows them to participate in placements.
The NEP recommends offering multiple entry and exit options. However, admissions to IITs are based on JEE (Advanced) and there is no scope for a lateral entry. For multiple exits, NEP recommends offering a certificate, a diploma and a degree if students intend to exit after the first, second or third years, respectively. Unlike state universities, the senate of the premier technology institute agreed to offer the exit option only after the third year, and not at every level. “Students have to roughly complete 60% of the total credits allotted to the course to get the BSc (engineering) degree,” said Avinash Mahajan, dean of academic programmes at the institute.
IIT-B offers variety in minor courses
IIT-Bombay will allow students to quit their course after three years with a BSc (engineering) degree. These students are among those who could either be having trouble clearing their courses or keen to try something else.
“We would like the students to complete the course,” said Avinash Mahajan, dean of academic programmes, confirming the institute has not foreseen offering an every-year exit option.
To supplement the decision on not offering the branch change option after the first year, IIT-Bombay is increasing intake in several minor programmes to ensure students learn many subjects outside their specialisation. After a suicide on campus, among other initiatives, the institute had done away with the branch change option at the end of first year. But to allow flexibility, a lot of minor programmes are available as electives.
Elaborating on how NEP has made way for flexibility in higher education, S Sudarshan, deputy director of the institute, said core courses and a number of electives are offered at the institute to allow flexibility to students. “Students, therefore, have a wide choice of courses across disciplines to choose from. Apart from flexibility, new disciplines beyond traditional lines envisaged by the NEP have been encouraged at IIT-Bombay such as the School of Management, School for Entrepreneurship, and others,” he said.
The professors were speaking at a press conference organised to share the programmes offered in alignment with the NEP. They highlighted the robust programmes that the institute is offering with foreign universities to facilitate internationalisation.
