A curriculum that prevents suicide? IIT-Delhi is revamping its courses to take pressure off students - IB Times

A curriculum that prevents suicide? IIT-Delhi is revamping its courses to take pressure off students

Concerned by the rising number of suicide cases, IIT-Delhi has decided to revamp its curriculum that will include more hands-on experience than theory classes.

Vanilla Sharma 

May 4, 2017 12:11 IST

The Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi has been dogged by a spate of suicides and attempted suicides in the past, the recent one being the case of 19-year-old Nitish Kumar Purti jumping off the balcony of his hostel room on May 3. While Purti, an Engineering Physics student at IIT-Delhi, was lucky to have survived with a few injuries, not everyone has had the same experience.

Concerned by the rising number of such cases, IIT-Delhi has decided to revamp its curriculum. The institute intends to plan a curriculum that helps students tackle the academic pressure, which in turn is likely to curb suicidal tendencies. The new curriculum that is expected to be adopted 2018 onwards will focus on more practical classes and hands-on experience rather than theory classes.

"There is a constant effort at the IITs to help students cope with stress but there are always one or two cases. All IITs are undertaking initiatives but nothing seems to be enough," IIT Delhi director V Ramgopal Rao told the Press Trust of India.

"By the time students come to IIT, they are tired of endless studying and they want to enjoy a bit. We, unfortunately, do not offer any scope for that."

He also revealed that the institute had conducted an internal survey to gauge the students' opinion about the curriculum and the general environment of the institute and it was found that the expectations that the students have were completely different from what the institute focused on.

"Hence a major rehaul was necessary to reduce the theory component and introduce more hands-on training so they can simply go to the lab and try applying what they have learnt so far," Rao added.

Students at a libraryReuters

To enhance the curriculum and take the pressure off students, all the departments of the institute have been asked to draft a revised curriculum, which will then be sent to the governing body for approval.

Apart from the curriculum, the IITs are also making efforts to take care of the general well-being of its students. Last week, the IIT Council met Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar and decided to introduce wellness centres at all the 23 IITs in the country that will help students deal with academic as well as other pressures and concerns.

On April 22, a fourth year engineering student was found hanging in his IIT Kharagpur hostel room. The Aerospace Engineering student was reportedly battling depression.

"Though the Delhi institute has low instances of suicides, the problem persists in many other centres where students are under pressure from the days of studying in private coaching institutions," an IIT official told The Times of India.

IIT Delhi To Revamp Curriculum To Prevent Student Suicide - NDTV

IIT Delhi To Revamp Curriculum To Prevent Student Suicide

Education | Edited by Anisha Singh | Updated: May 03, 2017 18:14 IST

NEW DELHI:  The Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi has decided to revamp its curriculum in view of the increasing cases of student suicides at the IITs. The curriculum would be revised in a way to help students handle study pressure and keep suicidal thoughts at bay. The decision comes after HRD Ministry asked the IITs to come up with new measures in addition to the existing ones to curb the trend of suicide among students due to study pressure. The revised curriculum is likely to be introduced next year and will focus less on theory and more on practical experience.

The various departments at IIT have been asked to submit a draft of revised curriculum. The draft would then be approved by the Governing body which also approved the required changes in the credit system. 

IIT Delhi Director V Ramgopal Rao told PTI, "There is a constant efforts at the IITs to help students cope with stress but there are always one or two cases. All IITs are undertaking initiatives but nothing seems to be enough." He also said that an internal survey found that there was a discrepancy in the students' and the institution's expectations. He said that by the time studnets come to IIT they are already tired of studying too much and expect to have a little bit of fun but the curriculum leaves hardly any scope for that. 

He also emphasized on the importance of guiding students at the fresher level itself because if the students develop backlog in the first year, it becomes difficult to sail through the next three years. He said that this is the reason why it was important to rethink the curriculum and reduce the theory component to make space for more practical aspects. 

The IIT Council, which is the apex coordination body for 23 IITs, chaired by Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar met last week and decided that all IITs will have a wellness centres which would help students de-stress and deal with mental stress. The centre would also conduct non-academic induction programme for freshers.

The issue of student suicide drew attention recently after a recent suicide by an IIT Kharagpur student. This is third such case at the institute this year. There is no consolidated data available on student suicides across IITs but the issue has been a matter of concern even for the previous governments. In 2011, the IIT Council, headed by the then HRD Minister Kapil Sibal had decided to set up a task force to address student's mental health issues. 

(With Inputs from PTI)

IIT Delhi decides to revamp its curriculum to prevent student suicides - First Post

IIT Delhi decides to revamp its curriculum to prevent student suicides

IndiaPTIMay, 03 2017 16:11:25 IST

New Delhi: Concerned with cases of student suicide at IITs, the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi has decided to revamp its curriculum in a way that helps them tackle study pressure effectively and keep suicidal tendency at bay.

The move comes against the backdrop of HRD ministry asking all IITs to take new initiatives, in addition to the existing measures, to stem the trend of student suicides.

                       Representational image. News18

The revised curriculum, which is likely to be implemented from next year, will have reduced focus on theory and students will be offered more hands-on experience.

The departments at IIT have been asked to draft a revised curriculum which will then be approved by the Governing Body, which also approved the required changes in the credit system.

"There is a constant efforts at the IITs to help students cope with stress but there are always one or two cases. All IITs are undertaking initiatives but nothing seems to be enough," IIT Delhi Director V Ramgopal Rao told PTI.

He said the IIT Delhi in an internal survey found that there is a mismatch between the students' and the institution's expectations.

"By the time students come to IIT, they are tired of endless studying and they want to enjoy a bit. We, unfortunately, do not offer any scope for that," Rao said.

He also said it is important to guide students at fresher-level only, because, he said, if they start developing "coldfeet" and have "backlogs", it becomes difficult for them to survive for another three years.

"Hence a major rehaul was necessary to reduce the theory component and introduce more hands-on training so they can simply go to the lab and try applying what they have learnt so far," he said.

The IIT Council, the apex coordination body for 23 IITs, had last week decided at a meeting chaired by Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar that all IITs will have wellness centres to help students deal with mental stress and also non-academic induction programmes for freshers.

The issue drew attention after the recent suicide by an IIT Kharagpur student, the third such case at the institute in this year.

There is no consolidated data available about the number of student suicides across IITs.

However, it has been a matter of concern for previous governments as well.

In 2011, under the then HRD minister Kapil Sibal, the IIT Council had decided to set up a task force to address students' mental health needs.

Published Date: May 03, 2017 04:11 pm 

IITs to have wellness centres - The Hindu

IITs to have wellness centres

PTI

MUMBAI APRIL 28, 2017 22:16 IST

                    Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar  

Concerned over the increasing number of ‘campus suicides’, the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) will now have wellness centres to help students deal with mental stress and a ‘non-academic’ induction programme for freshers.

A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting of the IIT Council, the apex coordination body for 23 IITs across the country.

During the meeting, chaired by Union Human Resources Development Minister Prakash Javadekar, the plan to increase representation of women in the IITs by introducing a supernumerary quota was also approved. “For freshers joining IITs, there will be an induction programme which will help them adjust to the atmosphere at the institute besides other things,” he said here.

IITs to start induction event for freshers - DNA India

IITs to start induction event for freshers

A student from IIT-Kharagpur recently surrendered his will to live

 KRITIKA SHARMA | Sat, 29 Apr 2017-08:00am , DNA

The move is aimed at curbing rising incidents of on-campus suicides; IIT Council also approves increasing seats for girls

The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) will soon have an extensive induction programme for freshers in order to acclamatise them to the new environment. This decision was taken in order to make students more comfortable and prevent incidents of on-campus suicide.

This decision was taken in a meeting of the IIT Council on Friday, with the council discussing the rising incidents of student suicides for the first time. The meeting was chaired by HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar and attended by the Directors of the seven older IITs.

The council has also given its approval for increasing seats for girl students across IITs. The minister said that the government wants to take the ratio of girl students in IITs to 20 per cent from the existing 8 per cent.

“We have planned many activities in the IITs so that students are not left alone. For instance, there will be a wellness centre in each IIT to take care of the mental and physical well-being of students,” Javadekar said.

After the council’s meeting, the 23 IITs have been urged to undertake a number of new initiatives to prevent suicides on campus. Apart from the compulsory induction programme, teaching students ways of coping with stress and referring them to on-campus counsellors will also be carried out.

Rising incidents of suicide have been a cause of worry for the IITs recently. This year itself, three students from various IITs committed suicide, with the latest being a student of Aerospace Engineering from IIT Kharagpur.

In the seven-hour long IIT Council meeting, which took place in Mumbai, numerous issues were taken up.

“Numerous female students pass the JEE advance entrance test but do not eventually take admission into IIT. We studied this and have prepared an action plan. We want to take their numbers to 20 per cent and many more female students should take up admissions in IIT. From this viewpoint, many schemes to encourage girl students, such as merit scholarships, etc, have been formulated,” Javadekar said.

Further, it has also been proposed that meritorious students who can work on research and innovation will be provided with funds of Rs 75,000 from the Prime Minister Scholarship Scheme.

PUTTING OUT THE WELCOME MAT

• The IIT Council has told the 23 IITs to undertake a number of new initiatives to prevent suicides on campus. Apart from the compulsory induction programme, teaching students ways of coping with stress and referring them to on-campus counsellors will also be carried out.
  
• This year itself, three students from various IITs committed suicide.

Council discusses fee waiver, suicides: No change in IIT fee structure this year - Indian Express

Council discusses fee waiver, suicides: No change in IIT fee structure this year

The discussion took place during a meeting of the IIT Council in Mumbai, chaired by Javadekar.

Written by Priyanka Sahoo | Mumbai | Updated: April 29, 2017 2:27 pm

                               Prakash Javadekar

The Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) on Friday discussed the issue of replacing a fee waiver for economically backward students with interest-free loans. However, Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar directed the institutes to continue with their existing fee structure for a year.

The discussion took place during a meeting of the IIT Council in Mumbai, chaired by Javadekar.

The rising student suicides in IITs — three IIT Kharagpur students committed suicide this year— was also discussed. The minister expressed concern over the occurrences despite dedicated systems in place and instructed the IITs to conduct long-term orientation programmes for first-year students.

While currently first-year students are made to undergo a two-day orientation, the council has decided to hold orientations for longer duration to help them adjust to the pressure and adapt to cultural diversity.

“Several measures are already in place to help students cope with anxiety, depression and pressure. We have been increasingly hiring counsellors and psychiatrists. We are seeing suicides despite such measures. The institutes will have to contemplate better solutions,” said Gautam Biswas, Director, IIT Guwahati.

The council has decided to transform counselling centres on the campus into wellness centres to focus on holistic well-being of the students. This will also help eliminate the stigma around counselling centres, it said.

Javadekar, who is the chairman of the council, said a flurry of initiatives were introduced to convert all IITs into institutes of eminence. Each IIT will have to prepare a three-year action plan, a seven-year strategic plan and a 15-year long-term plan to realise this goal and the plans will be discussed in later meetings.

One of the reforms is to increase the number of women students in IITs — currently pegged at 8 per cent — to more than 20 per cent. “Supernumerary seats will be added to institutes as need be,” said Javadekar.

To curb the outflow of research scholars from the country, the council has proposed incentives for PhD scholars. Fourth-year engineering students with excellent academic record will be granted a scholarship of Rs 75,000 a month under the Prime Minister Scholarship Scheme for pursuing PhDs in IITs. The proposal will be tabled in the Union cabinet, said the minister.

Javadekar announced that the Centre will raise Rs 20,000 crore in three years to fund research in premier institutes including IITs.

For more stories on IIT, click here

HRD Ministry to hold high-level probe into IIT-K students' death - DNA India

HRD Ministry to hold high-level probe into IIT-K students' death

IIT Kharagpur

Sun, 23 Apr 2017-09:24pm , PTI

"The official assured me that a team headed by a director of the ministry will be appointed to probe the cases of alleged suicides happening in IIT-Kharagpur," he said here.

The HRD Ministry will hold a high- level probe into the recent incidents of death of students in the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur.

Congress MP KC Venugopal on Sunday said he has been informed by Additional Secretary R Subramaniam that a team, headed by a senior ministry official, would be appointed to look into the incidents and that the teachers from other IITs would be part of the team. The Lok sabha MP from Alappuzha in Kerala, Venugopal said it was conveyed to him by during his telephonic talks with the officer over the death of a Keralite student in IIT-K.

Nidhin, a fourth-year aerospace engineering student of IIT-K, was found hanging from the ceiling of his room on Friday. "The official assured me that a team headed by a director of the ministry will be appointed to probe the cases of alleged suicides happening in IIT-Kharagpur," he said here.

Venugopal said he has written to HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar, seeking his intervention on the matter.

Venugopal said he was informed that the ministry has received an internal investigation report prepared by the IIT-Kharagpur on Nidhin's death.

The MP said he demanded a high-level probe in view of other such incidents in the IIT. Nidhin was the third student to commit suicide this year.

The IIT campus reported the first suicide on January 16, when Lokesh Meena from Rajasthan jumped on the tracks and was hit by a train at Jakpur station.

The second took place on March 30 when the body of a youth from Andhra Pradesh, Sana Sree Raj, was found on the train tracks, barely 500 metres from the IIT campus.