Photo: Daily Messenger
The Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) is dedicated to providing research-focused education to foster innovation and entrepreneurship. IIT Hyderabad is the first institution in India to introduce a graduate programme in artificial intelligence to meet the demand for skilled professionals in Industry 4.0. We also have a specialised programme in integrated circuit technology to serve the semiconductor industry, explained IITH Director Budaraju Srinivasa Murty during a meeting with Bangladeshi journalists.
A 28-member delegation of Bangladeshi media representatives recently visited the IITH campus in Sangareddy, Telangana, India, and met with esteemed scientist Dr. BS Murty. Among those present during the visit from IITH were Prof. Bharat Bhooshan Pan, the Academic Dean; Prof. Chandra Shekhar Sharma, the Dean of Sponsored Research and Consultancy; Prof. Tarun Kanti Panda, the Dean of International Relations; Dr. Shiva Ji, the Faculty-in-Charge of Public Relations; and Mitalee Agrawal, the Public Relations Officer. From the Bangladeshi delegation, notable figures such as Maasranga Television editor-in-chief Rejoanul Haq, DBC Television Editor Pranab Saha, Daily Janakantha executive editor Obaidul Kabir, News24 Television executive editor Rahul Raha, and Ekattor Televsion head of news Shakil Ahmed were also in attendance.
During the meeting, Prof. Murty, a renowned metallurgical scientist, emphasised IITH's focus on innovation and technology to encourage entrepreneurship among students, with the goal of cultivating job creators rather than job seekers. He highlighted a unique aspect of IITH's approach—a six-month semester break dedicated to developing innovative projects, including start-ups. This allows students to adjust their credits and complete their courses within a year, an innovation that stands as a rarity in the educational landscape. Notably, BS Murty was awarded the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology, the highest scientific honour in India, in the engineering science category in 2007. The Director of IITH extended a warm invitation to Bangladeshi students to enrol in the FIRST (Fellowship for International Research Scholars) programme, which offers fully-funded research scholarships.
As a research-focused institute, IITH boasts a student body comprising around 60 percent of PhD and post-graduate programmes. It ranks third among the top ten institutions in India in terms of innovation, according to the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF). IIT Hyderabad has announced the sixth round of admissions for the FIRST scheme, supporting bright and motivated international scholars pursuing PhDs with full financial support. Applications are accepted throughout the year, with admission commencing in January 2024. Prof. Tarun Kanti Panda, the Dean of the International Relations Department, expressed IITH's interest in seeking institutional collaboration with Bangladesh, particularly in the fields of research and innovation. He highlighted the exceptional talents of Bangladeshi students and their proficiency in English, which positions them well to excel in the tech industry. Collaboration in joint research activities is also being explored. IITH's commitment to innovation is further validated by its ranking among the top 10 institutions in the recent edition of NIRF (National Institutional Ranking Framework), particularly #3 in innovation in categories related to 'Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development' among students and faculties.
The impact of IITH's emphasis on innovation is evident in the development of over 135+ startups initiated by its students, leading to the creation of over a thousand jobs and revenue amounting to 12 billion Indian rupees. With over 3,00 full-time faculties, more than 4,800 students (including 20 percent women), close to 300 state-of-the-art laboratories, and five research and entrepreneurship centres, IITH continues to strengthen its position as a hub of technological advancement and research.
The institute's unwavering commitment to research is evident through its substantial research funding of over 5 billion Indian rupees, with approximately 30 percent of its student body consisting of PhD scholars. IITH students and faculty are at the forefront of innovation, with more than 9,500+ research publications, over 200 patent disclosures, over 3,700 projects, and 250+ collaborations with both industry and academia.
Messenger/Enamul Haque/Alamin
