JODHPUR : Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur is celebrating its 15 years of achievements in academia and research with inauguration of IITJ@15.
The inaugural event of IITJ@15 took place on March 16, 2023, and graced by Dr. S Chandrasekhar, Secretary of the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India. The entire institute community actively engaged in the various programs scheduled on this occasion. The event not only celebrated the achievements of the past, but also provided a platform to plan for a better future. The event included inauguration of Technology Innovation Hub (TIH), i-Hub DRISHTI being set up under a National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) of the Government of India that has a research focus on Computer Vision, Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR). On this occasion Dr. Chandrashekhar also inaugurated ANVISA (a novel innovation space for students), Intellia (Inter-departmental competition) and IITJ@15 technology exhibition.
With a focus on flexible academics and innovative research, IIT Jodhpur aims to address the societal challenges faced by the country. In 2008, the first academic session of IIT Jodhpur began at the IIT Kanpur campus and in 2010, the institute moved to a temporary campus in Jodhpur before shifting to its permanent campus in 2017. Throughout its history, IIT Jodhpur has achieved significant growth in both academics and research, and is currently involved in several multi-disciplinary projects in collaboration with academia, R&D, and industry, towards the national mission of “Atmanirbharta”. This growth has been made possible by the active participation, dedicated efforts, and wholehearted support of the entire IIT Jodhpur community.
On the inaugural occasion of IITJ@15, Prof. Santanu Chaudhury, Director, IIT Jodhpur, said, “IIT Jodhpur in 15 years has created a unique academic ecosystem where disciplinary boundaries are porous, where creative and original thoughts are promoted, where disruptive innovations are encouraged.”
Highlighting the significance of the institute in nation building, Dr. S Chandrasekhar, Secretary of the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, said, “India could be a superpower by 2047 by making effective use of resources as this will play a major role in the future. It is time to bring in the element of humanity to science and technology. It is time that all of us must think how to make this planet liveable and the planet which retains and survives. IIT Jodhpur is doing a remarkable job in sustainability development and I congratulate the team for the same.”
In continuation of repositioning and revamping the undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) education along with the research landscape, the Institute offers core, interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary UG, PG and doctoral programmes with flexible academic curriculum. The institute has 10 academic departments and 03 schools offering various academic and research programs. The institute has also established the Center for Emerging Technologies for Sustainable Development and Center for Technology Foresight and Policy. IIT Jodhpur strongly promotes interdisciplinary research and has set up an interdisciplinary research division that supports six interdisciplinary research platforms in niche areas such as Smart Healthcare, Quantum Information and Computation, Robotics and Mobility Systems and Digital Humanities. The institute has also taken initiatives to sensitize the fraternity about the NEP 2020 and their role for effective implementation of the policy.
Currently, the institute has more than 4000 students enrolled in various programs on campus and in an online education mode. The students now have the opportunity to pursue their ideas by opting for Engineering Innovation as a minor through which they are expected to get initiated in Engineering Research in close collaboration with industry or research institutions. The institute runs 488 internal and external research projects in various categories with a total sanctioned amount of about INR 200 Cr.
After spending 15 years in existence, it is essential for the institute to take a holistic review of its achievements and look towards its long-term vision. IIT Jodhpur is planning a series of events and workshops to celebrate IITJ@15. The institute plans to invite visionaries from the domains of academics, technology, and industry to provide guidance and insights for the future trajectory of the institute.
