Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday lauded the contributions of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati in tackling the Covid19 pandemic.
While addressing the virtual foundation day celebration of IIT Guwahati as the chief guest, chief minister Sarma highlighted the institute’s support, leadership role and the collaboration with the state government officials.
Speaking at the event, chief minister Sarma said, “The huge support and leadership role that IIT Guwahati has played to help our officials to contain this disease are utmost important and I acknowledge and thank the director Prof. TG Sitharam for the huge contributions under his leadership.”
IIT Guwahati is the sixth Institute of the IIT fraternity and was established in 1994.
The institute celebrated its 28th foundation day on Wednesday in the presence of the faculty, staff, students, and government officials, among others.
Appreciating the IIT Guwahati’s research and Covid19-related works, chief minister Sarma said, “The media has been highlighting and appreciating various research activities of IIT Guwahati such as the disinfectant drones, low-cost UVC LED-based disinfection system, Data-Driven State-wise assessment of the Covid19.”
“I am aware that the Institute has been providing various sophisticated instruments to National Health Mission (NHM) officials in Assam to carry out testing for COVID-19 from the initial stages of this pandemic itself,” chief minister Sarma said.
“The institute manufactured and commercialized all the Covid19 related kits in Assam along with an industry partner.”
“I advise the institute to collaborate with the state to improve the standards of science and mathematics education, do more consultancy with their soul and dedication and enhance outreach activities so that the state government benefits from the expertise of IIT Guwahati faculty, students and alumni,” Sarma added.
Within this short span, IIT Guwahati has been ranked 2nd in India and 41st globally in CPF (Citation per Faculty) category and 395th globally in QS World University Ranking among many.
In 2021, IIT Guwahati secured World Ranking in Petroleum Engineering.
Addressing the virtual event, IIT Guwahati director Prof. TG Sitharam said, “IIT Guwahati as an institute realized necessity of quick shift to virtual teaching; in fact the institute had the first virtual convocation on time.”
“We are thinking to reopen the campus for all the students earliest, we already have 2000 Research Scholars in the campus,” he said.
Prof. Sitharam further said, “With the vision to focus on Tower of Excellence to Network of Excellence, IIT Guwahati has signed several National and International MoUs including several in Assam.”
He also said the institute is working towards taking up more virtual projects, a new virtual center is set up for water conservation with Australia.
“Our ultimate aim is to be able to supply water in every village of Northeast region. We are committed to strive better and create opportunities for the region,” he added.
Addressing the event, Prof. Gautam Barua, director, Indian Institute of Information Technology Guwahati, said, “I will stress upon quality of teaching and precisely virtual teaching.”
“Post-pandemic one will never get back completely to the old style of teaching, online teaching will continue partially. Students will seek online supplement materials and we as teachers should be prepared for the same.”
“Hybrid teaching will be the new normal and teachers should update themselves with new technology and tools. Additionally, AI and ML are going to be the buzz words and topics to be pursued,” Prof Barua further said.
As the institute steps to its 28th year, it ensured and will continue to make its space in all the top national and international rankings and the vision is to always climb up the ladder.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. RI Modi, chairman, Board of Governors, IIT Guwahati, said, “The institute has improved its position in overall world ranking to 350 in Nature Index Ranking and Ranked within top 10 in India overall as well as four subject categories.”
“It has been ranked 7th (Engineering and Overall) in National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) conducted by Ministry of Education, Government of India, in the year 2020 and we are hoping this ranking to further improve this year,” he said.
In Outlook Magazine and India Today also it has ranked in the top universities in India, he added.