[India] - Suicide drives IIT-B to prepare 'lighter' curriculum to cut stress

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
MUMBAI: The Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, has actually reworked its first-year curricula to make these more pertinent and less
stressful
In the backdrop of the current campus event of a first-year student dying by suicide, the institute will quickly do the same for the 2nd
year and launch the new lighter version of the academic strategy soon
And, plans are being prepared to lighten the curricula even further for the freshmen entering in 2023
The institute has actually made the initial years curriculum less technical by presenting courses such as entrepreneurship, style,
programmes from the humanities, right from the start
The total overall credits of the BTech program have been minimized
The choice was taken based upon the Kishore Chatterjee Committee report.US: Michigan State University says motive unidentified in campus
shooting in which 3 trainees were killed We understood it was time to alter when we saw that trainees were less encouraged to pursue courses
in the branches that they were allocated (based upon their entryway examination ranks), stated a faculty member
So while we minimized the total credit for the whole BTech programme, we now provide a lot more versatility to students to select programs
from other branches or departments
The fallout was that trainees might select courses they enjoyed more and we would see more enjoyment and motivation to study, and hence less
stress on the school
While the total framework is ready, the information for the second year would be out soon
And as the same batch goes up, they will benefit from the brand-new changes every year
The concept is that we want students to enjoy what they are studying and select courses that they feel will serve later on in life, stated
a dean.In a communication to students on Saturday, director Subhasis Chaudhuri stated, We are also working towards modifications in our UG
curriculum, starting with the batch of 2022, to make it more relevant and encouraging to trainees, and to minimize some of the tension
Speaking about the unfortunate death of Darshan Solanki, he stated, We have actually been taking multiple steps for many years to support
and secure the mental health of our trainees
We have an active student mentor program, which connects to all new trainees
We are working actively to develop an inclusive school where all trainees feel at home
Meanwhile, the institute has actually started an internal investigation into Solankis death
The panel is headed by professor Nand Kishore, and consists of SC/ST trainee cell members, including both faculty and trainees, some of the
trainee mentor organizers and the in-charge chief medical officer of the campus health center
On Sunday night, students will take part in a candle light march rally at the IITB school to reveal their solidarity over Solankis death
Bhalchandra Mungekar, previous Mumbai University VC and former member of the Planning Commission, visited the institute and fulfilled the
director
He also went to the Powai police headquarters and told TOI that Solankis death needed careful examination and the matter was made complex .