Why IIT Gandhinagar is a Good Choice for Students - Interview with Prof. Sudhir K Jain, Director IITGN

Founded in 2008 and located at Chandkheda, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, IIT Gandhinagar has come a long way. It is currently in the process of shifting to its new sprawling campus on the banks of River Sabarmati at Palaj. The institute today offers B.Tech and M.Tech programmes as well as M.Sc programmes in a wide range of disciplines. It has had the distinction of being recognized with the World Education Award 2013 by the World Education Summit for its five-week immersion Foundation Programme under innovations in engineering education. It is a fact that a quarter of its undergraduate students receive study abroad experience during their academic career

Headed by Dr. Sudhir Jain who is an active academic and a passionate academic administrator, IITGN is carving a name amongst students for its encouragement to innovation, research and more. Prof Sudhir has been on the faculty of IIT Kanpur (IITK) since 1984 and currently is the Director of the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) in Ahmedabad. He has the distinction of setting up the National Information Centre of Earthquake Engineering (NICEE) at IITK and developing the National Programme on Earthquake Engineering Education (NPEEE), supported by the Government of India

Careers360 finds out from Prof Sudhir K Jain, Director, IIT Gandhinagar as to why IIT Gandhinagar is a good choice for students, what they can expect from the institute, facilities available at IITGN and its new permanent campus. Read on to know more….

Careers360: IIT Ganhinagar was started in a temporary campus. We hear that the new campus is ready and the institute’s website announces the shifting to the new Campus from July 8, 2015. Could you please elaborate and tell us about it?
Prof. Sudhir K Jain: The institute is expected to start moving to the permanent campus on 8th July 2015. Since moving the entire campus is a major activity, this will be spread over several weeks. The institute has already initiated various activities relating to moving all of its classrooms, instructional labs, administrative offices, all students and most of its amenities and expects to complete most of it within July 2015.

Careers360: Since the institute is already on the move to the new campus, can you give some details about the infrastructure available for the students in terms of the classrooms, hostels, library, canteens in the permanent new campus?

Prof. Sudhir K Jain: Well-furnished and modern hostels, audio-visual classrooms, auditorium, dinning facility, canteens, snack shops, coffee shops, well-stocked library (with digital collections and subscriptions), internet and wi-fi facilities, computer labs and IT services, counselling services, medical facility, physiotherapy center, gym and fitness center, student lounge, faculty lounge, staff lounge, sports grounds, instructional labs, research labs, manufacturing and prototyping facility, design and innovation center, student activity rooms, printing/photocopying facilities, etc. Finally, we also run a Day-care facility in the temporary campus for children (from 6 months age to 6 years age) of our faculty and staff.

Careers360: What is the faculty ratio at the institute? What kind of faculty can students expect at the institute?

Prof. Sudhir K Jain:  We have a faculty-student ratio of 1:10 at IITGN. When it comes to faculty recruiting we do not compromise. We are keen on recruiting those who have demonstrated excellence in research and teaching, and show great promise in continuing to do so.

Careers360: What would you term as the USP of the institute?

Prof. Sudhir K Jain:  IITGN is a place where innovative ideas are strongly encouraged and supported. Apart from the creative freedom that the students and faculty enjoy, the Institute’s curriculum and ethos imbibe innovation. While it is too early for the Institute to claim credit for ground breaking researches that address societal needs, the Institute today has a very creditable record of innovations and initiatives in curriculum and governance. Being a green field project, IIT Gandhinagar has a unique opportunity to become a top ranked world- class university; an Institution that fosters excellence in learning, research, scholarship and innovation, and that helps create global leaders indifferent fields of endeavour.

Careers360: Is the institute conducting a session for prospective students? What should students expect out of such sessions?

Prof. Sudhir K Jain: IIT Gandhinagar invites the students who have qualified JEE Advanced along with their parents every year to the campus to an event called ‘Open House’. In this event we inform them about different disciplines at IITGN and help them clear their confusions and misconceptions. The participants of Open House receive deep insight about IITGN, its vision, curriculum, student life, etc. The participants interact with the students of IITGN directly and know about their experiences as well as talk to faculty members of different disciplines at IITGN.

Careers360: What would your message be to the Prospective students as to why they should safely opt for the institute?

Prof. Sudhir K Jain:  If you have a dream to make a difference in the lives of the people, IITGN is where you belong. We are constantly looking for outstanding and enthusiastic students and faculty who share the vision, values and ambitions of the institute.

IITGN’s JEE Prospective Student’s Hangout Service from July 18 to 24, 2015

Prospective students can join the JEE Prospective Students Hangout Service that will take place from 18th to 24th of July 2015 in different time slots. The JEE Prospective Students Hangout service is a unique initiative towards guiding the prospective students in terms of how should they go about choosing their career paths. It intends to solve the general doubts and queries about life after JEE and also specifically answers questions related to IITGN.  Click here to join

Careers360 thanks Professor Sudhir K Jain for his valuable insights and inputs regarding IIT Gandhinagar.

Team Careers360 would love to hear from you students. So call us on 011-40360360 or mail us at[email protected] and let us know your concerns, opinions and ideas.