President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday asked Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, to invite alumni, to come back and teach even for short periods or for specific courses.

All great universities of the world, he said, have a deep and thriving engagement between old students and the institution. "They invite alumni to contribute, not merely in terms of financial assistance but more in terms of knowledge sharing and time."

Kovind was addressing the annual convocation of the IIT-Delhi.

The President said that the obligation was on IIT Delhi authorities to involve and invite alumni. "If procedures need to be simplified to achieve this, then efforts must be made in that direction," Kovind said.

The President said the IIT system in general – and IIT Delhi specifically – has been the gold standard of technical education in our country.

"IIT alumni have been the bedrock of India's engineering capabilities, its IT industry and our startup culture. They have been brand ambassadors of India's intellectual and technological strength across the globe, from Singapore to Silicon Valley," he said.

The President noted that IIT Delhi now has more post-graduate students than at the undergraduate level. He stated that this is a healthy sign.

"We are moving towards research-based learning and churning out products and technologies for nation building. I am also happy to note that researchers at IIT Delhi have invented and developed products that have contributed to the well-being of fellow citizens," he said.

The President said, "There is also the social role of IITs and the place they have in the Indian imagination. For many young Indians, studying at an IIT remains the ultimate dream."