IIT initiative to fast-track degrees from 2016

Year 2016 marks the end of obtaining B.Tech degree in four years, which an IITian now would be able to get in three and a half years.

This would be due to the implementation of new credit score system, which would take shape from the academic session of 2016-17, said IIT Kharagpur director Partha Pratim Chakrabarti at the institute's 60th convocation, said a newspaper report.

As the new system would provide a flexible time frame to students to complete their B.Tech programme, a stipulated number of credits, which would include class lecture, laboratory, workshop and field-work would be required.

They would also have the liberty to decide the duration for its completion, providing huge relief to slow learners allowing them to have eight years to complete the course.

This would also allow fast learners to earn 176-182 credits over a span of seven semesters.

The IIT-Kharagpur director said students finishing seven semesters in three-and-a-half years would get an opportunity to enrich their academic career by picking up an entrepreneurship venture or a start-up.

While students would be awarded a degree at the convocation, they would get a provisional marksheet at the three-and-a-half year's end to take up a job.

While an international summer-winter programme has already been introduced, certain more steps have to be taken before making a complete switchover to credits.

Once the uniform credit code comes into action, an inter-IIT mobility system would also be introduced across institutes. Students would be allowed to go and spend one or two semesters at an IIT of his preference. The credits that he would then earn at his stay would be exchanged and added to his marksheet, although he would get the degree of the IIT where he is enrolled.