Normal research post Covid-19 a challenge, says IIT-Madras director – Times of India

IIT Madras, on Thursday ranked the country’s top engineering institute by National Institutional Ranking Framework, has retained the ranking for the past five years. Big strides in research and innovation, interaction with industry and world class ecosystem for entrepreneurs have helped, says director Bhaskar Ramamurthi , explaining why the institute remains on top, the goals for next year and challenges before higher educational institutions post Covid-19. Excerpts from an interview given to Ragu Raman
The NIRF ranking shows IIT-M is head and shoulders above other IITs. What sets it apart?
We nurture research on transformational technologies with potential to address societal challenges. These include creation of the infrastructure for expansion, increasing faculty strength and increasing number of PhD scholars and the research output. Aspects unique to IIT-M, such as the IIT Madras Research Park, the strong linkages with industry, the incubation ecosystem and the large groups working on new technologies are leveraged. We engage with faculty and students to draw up a road map to improve performance by increasing faculty strength, student exchanges with global universities, good placements, good quality high impact research. There is an entrepreneurial and innovation culture on campus.
What are the goals for next year?
To continue to strive for excellence and make a mark nationally and internationally. We will begin implementing plans made under the IoE (Institute of Eminence) scheme.
After the Covid-19 crisis, what will be the major challenges?
The biggest and immediate challenge will be to return to normalcy, while maintaining safe practices. We are not sure when IIT-M will be permitted to re-open and who among our students will be able to travel safely to the institute. Even when this becomes possible, with just about 6,000 hostel rooms on a single-occupancy basis, we expect only some of the continuing students can return. Scholars whose work has ground to a halt will be the first to return. The fresh intake for 2020-21, whenever they are admitted, will have to be accommodated on campus as well. It will be a big challenge to get research activities back to normal