The Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry has asked the National Institutes of Technology (NITs) to increase the number of women students and faculties.
It has also called for setting up of a permanent committee to periodically review the performance of these 35 centrally-funded technical institutes in line with the IITs as most of the NITs scores low in the all India ranking on various parameters.
“All the NITs have been asked to take policy decision to bring in more women students within six months. They have also been asked to take immediate steps to ensure that more women faculties are recruited and existing women faculties are encouraged to get involved in administration work,” official sources said.
The NITs have been asked to conduct student outreach programmes to attract good students and increase the representation of girls in their classes.
They have also been directed to roll out schemes to support economically and socially backward students in their studies within six months.
NITs, many of whom did not score well in the all Indian ranking conducted under the HRD Ministry, also need to increase improve the placement of their students and increase quality research output.
“They have been suggested to enhance their linkage with industry and also upgrade their curriculum,” official sources said.
During a recent meeting, all of the NITs agreed to introduce industry-sponsored M.Tech programmes, establish industry-sponsored research and training laboratories.
The HRD Ministry will support the establishment of such research and training laboratories, sharing 50% of the fund required to put in. The remaining 50% of the fund has to come from the partner industry, the official added.
To meet the shortage of the faculties, the NITs have been directed to fill up the vacant posts by recruiting faculties in every six month.
Published 11 June 2017, 15:25 IST