IIT-M plans to offer about 2,000 courses by 2020

The curriculum will be structured such that the core course would take up around 50 per cent and there will be opportunities to diversify into multi-disciplinary electives.

IIT-M’s strategic plan 2020 document said while the core courses will define the stream opted for by the student at the time of admission, students can choose from a wide variety of courses for completing their degrees. A heterogeneous mix of students from various streams is considered desirable in the classroom.

Further, the means by which undergraduate students could obtain research-based credits are being explored. These may take the form of hands on learning and research projects. Undergraduate students may also obtain credits through research oriented self-learning. A strategy of introducing curricular flexibility is adopted to sustain the interest of all students, both high performers and those with difficulties. The course programmes will be developed with well-defined objective and outcomes. Students are constrained to exercise their choice of stream according to the all-India single-window admission process of the IITs.

Assessments of teaching performance will be a factor in awarding promotions. Special programmes will be prescribed for those in need of improvement. There will be a system of awards and recognition for excellence in teaching and mentoring.

A smooth entry-to-exit online process will be put in place to handle a student’s academic progress. This will minimise the administrative overhead for faculty members. Information relating to the performance of students will be made available online through a secure system.