Higher institutions’ National Ranking Framework to have separate system for IISERs, says HRD Minister

Union HRD Minister Smriti Zubin Irani said this on Tuesday.

Addressing the 4th convocation of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Kolkata at Mohanpur in Nadia,  Irani said that IISERs have contributed significantly in the study of basic sciences within a very short period.

These institutes went ahead forging academic collaboration links with renowned institutes abroad and this will allow the students to access academic facilities abroad while studying at the Indian institutions. This will effectively stem the trend of students going to foreign institutions post their Bachelor and Masters study, Irani said.

Lauding the efforts of promoting scientific research activities among the school students by the IISER, Kolkata,  Irani said that quest for knowledge, discovery and innovations should continue at all levels.

These efforts will improve the study of science that has dipped to 30 percent, she pointed out.

Irani on this occasion, announced a two-member team of the HRD Ministry will visit the institute to assess shortage of hostel facilities faced by students and faculty and also find out other priority-needs of the IISER, Kolkata which is also celebrating the 10th year of its existence.

R. N. Mukherjee, Director of the institute on this occasion read out a message sent by the President of India lauding the contribution of the institute in science education and research. IISER, Kolkata has already started creating a niche for science; it is an excellent beginning, the President observed.

West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi, addressing the convocation said that the outstanding students of this institute should realize that apart from inculcating their personal knowledge, they are creating national wealth.

Science is virtually the vehicle of progress for society yet caution should be applied in its balanced use because besides creating, it can also kill, he cautioned. Referring to the Bengal’s glorious history in research and study of basic sciences, Tripathi hoped that IISER, Kolkata will work in tandem, among others, with Bose Institute, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, IIEST, Shibpur and Kolkata and Jadavpur Universities for effective co-ordination of various disciplines of science.

In all, 121 students were awarded degrees at today’s convocation including 86 BS-MS, 4 MS-by-Research, 5 MS of Integrated-PhD and 26 PhD.