Sibal suggests review of NITs

As part its efforts to encourage increased research activities and prepare a roadmap for enhanced quality teaching, the government has suggested a "review" of the National Institutes of Technology (NIT).

HRD Minister Kapil Sibal suggested review of the NITs under the chairmanship Anil K Kakodkar, who has already submitted a report to the Ministry about the future of the prestigious IITs.

NITs, considered the premier engineering institutes in the country, completes a decade of existence shortly.

At the second NIT council meeting held here today, Sibal also stressed on "networking among IITs, NITs and other institutions and annual meeting between the directors of these institutes to discuss larger issues connected with technical education and research", said an HRD Ministry official.

The council decided to constitute a committee for implementing centralised post graduate admissions to the NITs on the pattern of under graduate admissions.

Besides, another committee was set up to provide merit scholarship to deserving under graduate students.

Streamlining the process of admitting foreign students, the council also decided to conduct the AIEEE on-line examination at international level, the official said.

While reviewing the admission policy for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, the council considered foreign student admission through Direct Admission of Students Abroad (DASA) scheme.