Interim Report of Fourth Undergraduate Review Committee

The fourth UG Review Committee (UGRC) was constituted by the senate in the first semester of 1999-2000 to review the B.Tech./M.Sc. (Integrated) programme and to present a proposal for implementation. Inter-alia, the committee is required

1. to review the core programme and suggest modifications,

2. to frame the guidelines for developing the departmental (professional) programmes,

3. to prepare the detailed course contents of the core programme through subcommittees,

4. to get the contents of the departmental courses from the departments concerned.

5. to restructure the courses in Humanities with a view to enhancing the communication skills of the students,

6. to lay down the limits of flexibility that should be given an individual student and a department, and

7. to review the slow-paced programme and suggest modifications in view of the above.

The committee started its work by carefully examining the strengths and shortcomings of the existing programme and then addressed the following issues:

(a) The Science Component in Engineering Education: The uniqueness of the B.Tech programme at IIT Kanpur is its strong base of science education and it was decided not to deviate from this. However, it was felt that there is no need to concentrate all the science learning in the early part of the programme. Hence it is proposed to spread the science component (just as the HSS component) across the curriculum. This is based on the belief that humanities and science education should be a co-requisite (rather than just pre-requisite) of undergraduate engineering education. The education in humanities and sciences exposes the students to the works of some of the best minds that different civilisations have produced. Moreover, modern developments in sciences are bound to play an important role in the development of technology.

(b) Communication Skills of Students: Across the institute, it was felt that the students should improve their oral and written communication skills. The proposed course is expected to address this need.

(c) Lack of Motivation: As mentioned in the terms of reference, there exists a widespread feeling that the students, in general, are lacking in motivation for academics. This is reflected in increased absenteeism in lectures. Several reasons, including very hard preparation for JEE with a strong dose of Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics followed by similar subjects in the initial stage of UG programme, were cited. It is suggested to change the sequence of courses and bring in some new courses early in the programme. Further, a new introductory course in every department [Introduction to Profession, D(0)] is proposed. The aim of this course should be more to orient and motivate than to teach. The total academic load in the first two semesters is being reduced with a view to allowing the students to acclimatize with the academic environment of the IITK system.

(d) Weakness in Laboratory Courses: It is a general feeling among both the faculty and the students that the laboratory component in our UG programme is weaker in comparison with the theory. Therefore, it is proposed to separate the laboratory part of the science courses from the theory courses and make at least two laboratory courses compulsory for every engineering department. This, it is hoped, will help in focusing attention on the laboratory component of the training and gradually strengthen this part of the programme.

(e) Compulsory/Elective Courses: Keeping in view the phenomenal increase in the knowledge base of every discipline, it was decided to devote certain number of compulsory courses to cover the required basic minimum and leave the students the option of choosing between breadth and depth to be acquired through elective courses.

In the light of the above, a new structure has been proposed by the UGRC which was discussed in the senate meetings: (1999-2000/Special meeting/19.02.2000) and (2000-2001/Special meeting/28.09.2000)

It is proposed that the agenda items and the minutes of these senate meetings be posted on IITK website at an early date so that all those concerned have easy access to it.

Very briefly (and without repeated clarifications, that are provided in the Agenda item on complex issues) the proposed undergraduate B.Tech. programme for the first four semesters is as follows:

Physics 101, Physics 102, Maths 101, Maths 102, Maths 203, Chemistry 201, Physics Laboratory (Phy 101L). Chemistry Laboratory (Chm 101L), Fundamentals of Computing (ESC 101), Introduction to Electronics (ESC 102), Engineering Graphics (TA 101), Introduction to Profession (D0), Manufacturing Processes (TA 201), 3 courses on Engineering Science (different for different disciplines; for CSE students there will be 2 ESO courses and 1 elective course), 2 courses on Humanities and Social Sciences, 1 course on Communication skills, 3 Departmental courses, 2 courses on Physical education.

The details of the courses in the last four semesters are given in the following table:

Departmental D10 Elective 4

Departmental D11 Departmental D12

Departmental Elective 1* Departmental Elective 2*

Elective 3 Elective 5

* Elective courses offered by the department or any other course permitted by DUGC.

Notes:

A. A minimum of one or maximum of two departmental (D) slots should be used for the B.Tech Project.

B. The departments should have two additional laboratory courses (each of 6 laboratory hours per week) to be offered during fifth to eighth semesters. One of these should be offered in the odd and the other in the even semester. These slots have not been shown in the above list (due to varying choices of the departments regarding the semesters when these will be offered).

C. If any department strongly feels, then (i) up to a maximum of two Elective slots can be taken over for Departmental compulsory/Departmental Elective courses, OR (ii) the students can take some special academic work (like, independent/guided study courses, working for a special problem with a faculty member) in lieu of up to a maximum of two Elective courses OR (iii) Up to a maximum of total two elective slots can be filled up by using the alternatives (i) and (ii),

D. The number of elective slots varies from minimum 3 to maximum 5 (during the last four semesters). To guide the students every department should classify their courses (including the compulsory ones) in two categories, say general and departmental. The list of such general courses will help the students to choose their elective from other departments. Each department also has to ensure offering of sufficient number of elective courses (apart from and including the post-graduate courses) so that the students are given a reasonable number to choose from.

E. Individual departments should decide whether industrial summer training should be made compulsory. Departments should be encouraged to conduct industrial tours for the students.

A. K. Mallik,
Convenor, Fourth UGRC.