The Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-M) plans to increase the number of Ph.Ds to 2,000 in five years.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi, director of the institute, said the institute had always focussed on developing research output, including students and faculty.

“We hade always wanted to increase Ph.D intake in this institute and the committee headed by former atomic energy commission (AEC) chairman Anil Kakodkar too reiterated it” he said.

Kakodkar committee recommended that IITs be rebranded as primary research institutes and increase PhD students from less than 1, 000 students to 10,000 by 2020-25, and the number of IITs from 15 to 20.

Prof. Ramamurthi said last year IIT-M admitted 300 students for the Ph.D programme but this year they had increased the number to 400 to produce 2,000 doctorates in five years.

“In the next few years we will increase our annual Ph.D intake to 700 per year provided we recruit more faculty to have 700 faculty on campus,” he added.

When asked about the institute’s plan for physical expansion, the director said last year the institute framed a master plan, according to which the institute could construct additional buildings in the remaining six acres.

“If the government wants us to increase student enrolment by another 50 per cent we need more land. Also for doing bigger projects we need more land,” he added.

source: http://www.AsianAge.com / Home> Metros> Chennai / DC, Chennai / May 02nd, 2012