New Delhi: Former IIT Delhi Director V Ramgopal Rao has suggested that IITs consider five-year BTech programmes to address the wide differences in academic backgrounds and learning pace among students.
Rao, who is Group Vice-Chancellor of BITS Pilani campuses, said the current four-year structure follows a “one-size-fits-all” approach despite highly diverse classrooms. He made the remarks while commenting on the recent controversy involving IIT Bombay professor Suryanarayana Doola.
He said students enter IITs with very different levels of preparation, and coaching-based learning does not always prepare them for independent problem-solving. According to Rao, teaching at a single pace can leave some students struggling while others lose interest.
Rao proposed a flexible five-year model in which students meeting the required credits could graduate earlier, while others could use the additional time for academic support. Recorded lectures, online resources and language assistance could also help students who need more time.
He said the model could reduce the stigma associated with taking longer to complete a degree, as five years would be part of the programme itself.
Rao stressed that academic standards should not be lowered. Instead, he argued that institutions should provide students with the time and support needed to meet those standards.