The Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad will launch two new courses from the upcoming academic year of 2017-18. They are B.Tech. (Minor in Design) and B.Tech. (Engineering Mathematics). The courses are being introduced following interest from students as well as employers who are increasingly looking for these skills. The intake for the course is 10 students.
Commenting on the launch of two new courses, Professor U.B. Desai, Director of the Institute said, “Multi-disciplinary areas are constantly emerging not just within the academic world but also within the industry. These areas require new ways of thinking and new skills. These New courses aim to fulfill such emergent requirements". Professor D. Sukumar, Head of the Department of Mathematics, added, “The B.Tech. (Engineering Mathematics) will enable students to pursue higher studies in Math, such as a Ph.D. in world class universities.”
Further, it is believed to help students to take up Research and Development work in national as well as international laboratories. Speaking about the reasons behind introducing the course now, Professor Sukumar the course bridges the gap between having a very good undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Mathematics. It will also help train quality faculty in mathematics for the future with strong basics.
Students will be exposed, from the first semester, to the foundations and fundamentals required for higher mathematics. They can tailor their course according to their orientation and specialisation of Mathematics through the fractal academic system. They will be trained to solve problems and project-based learning from the preceding years, which will help link between different areas of mathematics.The Professor points out that at present, other IITs to offer similar courses include IIT-Guwahati and IIT-Delhi. There are also Integrated Dual Degrees offered by IIT Kanpur and IIT (BHU) Varanasi.
Neelkantan, Assistant Professor in the Department of Design said, “The advantage of the Minor in Design Course is not just about employability but also supporting the students to be creative thinkers and begin initiatives of their own.” The students intake for this course will be between 15 and 20. These courses are meant to introduce a 'design-spine' within the larger engineering environment as visualized by Design Manifesto 2014. Design departments that are part of IITs have the advantage of collaborating across disciplines in sciences and engineering.
“The response to the existing courses has been amazing and the candidates experience tough competition to get admitted to the design program,” the Professor said. Adding that the course structure was oriented in such a way that the students are encouraged right from the first semester to think independently. Other minor courses that would be offered include Principles of Animation, Digital Heritage, Visual Communication, Built-environment/ Urban Space Design, Movement Art, Technology and Environmental Installations and Performances, etc.
