All events are conceptualised, thoroughly discussed and planned by CERTEX EC members, and one member takes the responsibility to carry out one event. If you have any ideas for a future event, please contact any of the EC members or PIC CERTEX ( pic_certex@iitk.ac.in).
Title: Technology Is Ready for the Classroom. Are Practitioners Ready for Technology?
Date and Time: February 12, 2026 (Thursday), 4:30 PM (Tea will be served at 4:15 PM)
Venue: L04 (Lecture Hall Complex)
Speaker: Prof. Sudarshan Iyengar
About the speaker: Dr. Sudarshan Iyengar is an educator, researcher, and computing enthusiast who strives to make technical education more engaging and impactful through storytelling. A PhD graduate from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), he has delivered over 400 popular science talks, conducted 120+ Faculty Development Programs, and created online SWAYAM/NPTEL courses that have reached over 1 million students. He is a strong advocate for innovative teaching methodologies in higher education. His SWAYAM course “The Joy of Computing” stands number one in terms of enrolments and attracts close to 75,000 enrolments every semester.
Dr. Sudarshan, a faculty member in the CSE Department at IIT Ropar, is currently serving as the Director of Annam.AI, a newly established ₹330-crore Center of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence at IIT Ropar. Additionally, he is the Principal Investigator and leads the Education Design Lab at IIT Ropar, where he works on creating novel pedagogical frameworks for the future of learning. He heads a national level FDP initiative Gurusetu of MMTTP which is meant to up-skill 15 Lakh teachers of Higher education. He is also the Nodal Coordinator in the country for the Prime Minister Research Fellowship Programme for Computer Science and Mathematics and the Nodal Coordinator for PM SHRI for the implementation of NEP in the Punjab region. He is the founding faculty of the IIT Madras BS Programme. He has graduated 10 PhD students and is currently guiding 5 in the area of Education Technologies.
His research spans AI for Social Good and Education Design. A home-schooling father of two, Dr. Sudarshan finds joy in exploring literature—from short stories to philosophy—fuelling his mission to make education inspiring and accessible to all.
Abstract: While advances in Technology can personalise learning, provide real-time feedback, and relieve teachers of repetitive tasks, most classrooms still rely on uniform instruction, limited diagnostics, and outdated workflows that fail to meet diverse learner needs. This talk argues that meaningful educational transformation requires rethinking how classrooms operate—moving from intuition-driven teaching to data-informed, adaptive learning environments. Technology is not here to replace teachers but to amplify their impact, giving them the tools, visibility, and support needed to unlock every learner’s potential. The future of learning is ready; our classrooms must now catch up. The talk will highlight on some of the strategic changes that we can bring into our classrooms when it comes to Science/Engineering Instruction.
PosterTitle: What is that industry is looking for in engineering graduates?
Date and Time: January 29, 2026, 4:30 PM
Venue: L04 (Lecture Hall Complex)
Speaker: Prof. Deepak (Retd.)
About the speaker: Professor Deepak graduated from IIT Kanpur in 1987 with B. Tech. in Metallurgical Engineering. He did his Masters in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Florida, Gainesville, in 1989 and Ph. D. in Materials Science and Mineral Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1993. After doing a post-doctoral fellowship at Argonne Nation Lab, he joined Motorola in Arizona, USA, as a Staff Process & Electronic Engineer and worked there for three years. Thereafter he joined the department of Materials Science and Engineering, IIT Kanpur as an Assistant Professor in 1997 and became a professor in 2005. During this time, he was also a coordinator of the Samtel Center for Display Technologies and also led a team for Samtel Engineers to develop a OLED display in IIT Kanpur. In 2017 he founded a start-up Transpacks Technologies (Checko) whose product is being used by several Fortune 500 companies. In 2025, he took Voluntary Retirement from the institute and devotes his time to guiding the start-up he founded.
Abstract: The question is bothersome because we often treat industry as a monolith — yet it clearly is not. If industry is not a single, unified entity, whose voices can we trust in trying to fulfil industry’s diverse expectations? What role do educationists play in determining what is right and what is wrong in such a varied landscape? A large industrial organization’s expectation can be quite different from that a small-scale industry and from that of a start-up. Academicians’ deep research interest may also influence the decision what would be taught in a curriculum. This presentation draws on my long academic career and over a decade of industry experience, including the founding of a start-up, to raise these issue in some coherent manner. It will deliberately surface perspectives that may appear confusing or even orthogonal; however, the aim is to search for real teaching and education needs and the hope is to arrive at a model that can accommodate varied education needs for the next fifty years.
Poster | SlidesTitle: Bridging Engineering Education with Organizational Success Empowering Students for Professional Excellence
Date and Time: 18 November 2025, 4pm
Venue: L9
Speaker: Anil Sharma (Founder & CEO LeadEdge; B.Tech.(EE,IITK) - 1983 batch)
About the speaker: Anil has spent decades in the corporate sector, and is a leading expert in organizational and leadership development. He provides training to corporates across the globe.
Theme: The central theme of this talk is to explore how engineering education can be strategically aligned with the demands of organizational life, ensuring that graduates are not only technically proficient but also possess the essential skills and attributes required to thrive in the workplace. The session aims to share a practitioner’s perspectives with faculty members to enable reflection on nurturing holistic development among students, thereby fostering future professionals who are adaptable, collaborative, and innovative.
Abstract: In today's fast-evolving professional landscape, success in organizational life demands much more than technical expertise. As engineering educators, it is imperative to prepare students to face real-world challenges and create impact. This talk will examine the key competencies and mindsets that engineering graduates must develop for enduring success and thriving in a VUCA landscape. The insights are anchored in the experience and the journey of the speaker through the world of work and business. The session will facilitate a dialogue on implications for curriculum design, teaching methodologies, and campus culture and how they can be reimagined to foster these qualities. By integrating experiential learning, interdisciplinary exposure, industry interaction, and soft skills development into engineering education, faculty can play a pivotal role in shaping well-rounded professionals. The talk will also provide actionable insights and best practices to help faculty members bridge the gap between academic preparation and organizational expectations, ultimately contributing to the success and employability of their students.
SlidesDate: 15 November 2025
Coordinator: Dr. Ushasi Roy (CERTEX)
Venue: 203H, DJAC
ScheduleA video-making competition for TA and Staff (August 2025, Winners announced: 5 September 2025)
Winners (Student TAs):
Special mention:
Winners (Teaching Staff):
Special mention:
Coordinator: Dr. Ritika Gautam (CERTEX)
Speakers: Members of Team CERTEX and Dr. Saumya Sharma (EFL, Lucknow)
Date: 16-17 August 2025
Venue: L20
The workshop aims to bring together experienced faculty, education specialists, and institutional leaders to share best practices, innovative teaching methods, and strategies for creating inclusive and engaging learning environments. It is tailored to empower participants with practical tools and innovative approaches that will help them excel as facilitators of learning. Participants will leave with improved teaching confidence, stronger communication skills, and an expanded professional network.
Workshop Highlights:
Feedback form design team: Dr. A. R. Harish (EE), Dr. Monica Katiyar (MSE), Dr. Nivedita Bhaktha (DoMS), Dr. Salman Khan (ChE)
Convener: Dr. Vineet Sahu (CERTEX)
Survey analysis and report: Dr. Nivedita Bhaktha (DoMS)
An institute of higher learning like the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur fosters a dynamic academic environment. This is evident in the structure and content its courses, as well as its teaching methods and evaluation processes. All of these are deliberately designed to encourage innovation and experimentation in instruction. This flexibility coupled with knowledgeable and passionate faculty members leads to a wide range of learning experiences for students during their education here. Some of these experiences may be highly conducive to learning while others may fall short of that goal. Understanding the nature of these experiences is therefore essential for improving the overall effectiveness of teaching and learning.
Survey form | Report | SlidesTeam: Dr. Abhijeet Mohapatra (ADAA), Dr. Shashank Shekhar (SUGC Chairperson), Dr. Ark Verma (CERTEX), Dr. Navrose (AE), Dr. Ritika Gautam (CERTEX), Dr. Vikramjeet Singh Chandel (MTH), Dr. Shikhar Misra (MSE), Shruti R. Dalvi (SUGC student representative)
Chairperson: Dr. Manoj Harbola (PIC CERTEX)
Curator: Ms. Ashesha Sinha, Designer: Mr. Sumit Raj
Date: 21 July 2025
Brochure | Brochure release pictureDate: 27 March 2025
Presenter: Dr. Amit Kuber (MTH, CERTEX)
Abstract: The ever-growing student strength is making exam evaluation a time-consuming and tiring process, and for large class sizes, one needs the collaborative efforts of a large team. At the same time, rapid advances in technology have blessed us with some easy-to-use online tools like “Gradescope”. Several colleagues from our institute have been using this tool for the past 6-7 years due to its wide variety of features including but not limited to:
Date: 01 March 2025
The first formal workshop of CERTEX was held against the backdrop of the new pedagogic challenges in undergraduate STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education. It is a rapidly evolving domain, with new knowledge seeking to displace classical topics. There is a continuing debate on what essential knowledge in undergraduate education at IIT Kanpur should be.
This workshop focused on refining Institute Core Courses (ICCs), which form the foundational backbone of undergraduate education at IIT Kanpur. ICCs aim to impart skills and knowledge in diverse fields required for a strong scientific temper, basic technical skills, and a world-view that makes them responsible citizens. Balancing classical knowledge with emerging innovations remains a critical challenge as STEM disciplines evolve rapidly. ICCs must adapt dynamically to equip students with scientific rigor, technical proficiency, and a global perspective, fostering responsible citizenship.
Video | Report