PT Policy Clarification
As part of the buildup to our video on PTs to be taken next week, we bring you the text of an interview with Ganesh Mani, the GSAA, on the current PT policy.
1. What is the current status of the PT policy in the institute?
The new PT policy was finalised on 19/12/2007. Only the PTs done in Indian companies, organisations and labs (BARC, TIFR included, multinationals in India included) would be recognised as a part of the curriculum.
2. What prompted this bit of action from the Institute's side?
This has been on the cards for some time, the main reason being that we get to work in Indian companies and get hands-on experience as part of our Practical Training. Spamming is not a major reason.
3. Why only for this one batch, since PTs are not even there for subsequent batches?
When the rule was finalized in December, it was to be implemented for all future batches. The new course curriculum had then not been decided. Although the Biswas Committee Report had left the option of practical training open to the departments, it was only in April that the departments' curriculum was finalized and only 1 department (MEMS) decided to retain practical training as part of the curriculum.
4. Who at the administrative level is in charge of this?
Prof. Biswas (Dean AP) and Prof. Vasi (Deputy Director).
5. There has been some opposition from the students on this issue. All the Departments had submitted lists of companies who had taken interns from there in previous years, clearly citing the fact that these were insufficient. What do the authorities have to say on this?
That practical training should be done in industries to gain valuable exposure to industrial practices is something that the faculty insist on. However, Prof Biswas had earlier mentioned that if companies were insufficient, a review could be carried out.
Also, IITB has voiced its PT policy in many forums outside. We have also engaged in talks with other IITs to do the same. If we revoke this policy, we shall lose our credibility and shall suffer in the future through weakening of industry university relations.
Volume XI