Indian Institute of Technology Ropar

Indian Institute of Technology Ropar
भारतीय प्रौद्योगिकी संस्थान रोपड़

Former names
 Indian Institute of Technology Punjab
Motto धीयो यो नः प्रचोदयात
Motto in English
 Guide in the Right Direction
Established 2008
Type Public, Education and Research Institution
Dean P. K. Raina
Director M. K. Surrapa
Students ~500
Undergraduates ~450
~50
Location Rupnagar, Punjab, India
30°58′32″N 76°32′22″E / 30.9755°N 76.5395°ECoordinates: 30°58′32″N 76°32′22″E / 30.9755°N 76.5395°E
Campus Main – Spread over 520 acres (2.1 km2), Transit – Spread over 25 acres (0.10 km2)
Website www.iitrpr.ac.in

The Indian Institute of Technology Ropar (IIT Ropar), sometimes referred to as Indian Institute of Technology Punjab (IIT Punjab), is an engineering and technology higher education institute located in Rupnagar, Punjab, India. It is one of the eight new Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) established by the Ministry of Human Resource Development MHRD, Government of India under The Institutes of Technology (Amendment) Act, 2011 which declares these eight IITs as well as the conversion of Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University to IIT.[1] The Act was passed in the Lok Sabha on 24 March 2011[2] and by the Rajya Sabha on 30 April 2012.[3]

History

This new institute was established by MHRD in year 2008. The classes for academic session 2008–2009 were held at IIT Delhi. The Institute started functioning from its transit campus in Rupnagar in August 2009.[4][5]

Campus & Location

IIT Ropar is located at Rupnagar (formerly known as Ropar) town of the district Rupnagar. Rupnagar was founded in the 11th century and named after Rup Sen son of Raja Rokeshar. Recent excavations and explorations conducted at Rupnagar indicate that the first settlements here were the Harappans, who reached the upper Satluj towards the close of third millennium B.C. The district has rich historical and religious significance.

Rupnagar town is the headquarters of district Rupnagar and is located 42 km. from Chandigarh, the state capital. It is connected by road on National Highway NH-21. The Delhi-Ambala-Una railway line passes through Rupnagar and provides rail connectivity. The nearest airport is at Chandigarh at a distance of about 60 km. The Satluj river passes close to Rupnagar.

The climate is characterised by its general dryness, except during the south-west monsoon season, a hot summer and a cold winter. The winter is from mid-November to February, summer from March to June and the monsoon from late June to mid-September. The average annual rainfall in the district is about 776 mm with about 78% in the period of June to September.

Permanent campus

The location for permanent campus of IIT Ropar is Birla Seed Farms, Rupnagar. The Government of Punjab has approved about 525 acres (2.12 km2) land for the permanent campus in Rupnagar. Foundation stone for the permanent campus of IIT Ropar was laid down on 24 February 2009 by former Union HRD Minister Mr. Arjun Singh. The contract is given to CPWD and a Bangkok-based construction company is assigned the task of finishing the first phase.

IIT ropar transit campus

Temporary campus

The temporary campus of IIT Ropar is former Women's Polytechnic, Rupnagar. The academic and administration buildings of the Women's Polytechnic were completely renovated to accommodate all the requirements of the Institute . It has all the basic infrastructure to run Academic programmes specially designed by IIT Delhi. The transit campus is equipped with state of art lecture halls along with well maintained playgrounds to nurture the bright minds and enhance their overall development. Special emphasis has been laid to set up advanced laboratories to help students gain practical insight of the courses that are a part of their curriculum. The current temporary campus is a brief 1 km walk from Rupnagar railway station.

Academic system

The curriculum followed at IIT Ropar provides for a science-based engineering education, with a view to produce quality engineer-scientists. If facilitates broad-based knowledge acquisition and, simultaneously, nurtures a temper for lifelong learning and exploration. Students are encouraged to go beyond the classroom to conduct and carry out independent work by means of research projects, guided reading, and by allowing them to join the research activities undertaken by faculty members. The idea behind such a fashioning of the curriculum is the belief that classroom activities must be supplemented by independent study and also by individual research that broadens one's horizon and provides for opportunities to bring one's ideas to fruition.

The academic programme at the institute follows a semester-based credit system. The prominent feature of the credit system is the process of continuous evaluation of a student's performance and the flexibility to allow a student to progress at an optimum pace suited to his/her ability or convenience, subject to fulfilling minimum requirements for continuation. A minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) is necessary for satisfactory progress and continuation in the programme.

Departments

The institute flagged its beginning with the following 7 departments including 3 engineering departments, and 4 supporting departments all of which offer PhD programme.

Academic programmes

Bachelor's Degree

In its first year of inception 2008–2009, three undergraduate programmes were offered. Admission to these programmes is through the IIT-JEE and students are admitted after completing 10+2 (high-school level) schooling.

Master's Degree

Master's degree programme is yet to be started.

PhD Degree

IIT Ropar offers admissions for PhD in Computer Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Philosophy.[6]

Academic information

The institute's transit campus developed almost fully by the winter semester of academic session 2009–2010. The first half of academic year 2009–2010 was overseen by faculty from IIT Delhi. IIT Ropar now has faculty members for seven different departments and schools functional at the institute.[7]

Students of the IIT Ropar have had a great opportunities to explore their research capabilities under the able guidance of collaborated UK universities for different Summer sessions.[8]

Research

The institute, apart from establishing robust teaching environment, is keen to facilitate and support cutting-edge research in a variety of areas. This aspect will enable the students to acquaint themselves with latest development in their respective areas of study and pursue their own research interests. This would also result in a constant revision of the contents of courses that are being taught.

The institute encourages its faculty members to initiate research work and provides an initiation grant and also the basic facilities for its sustenance. It also encourages faculty members to establish collaborative research ventures with other research lab and industry. In this regard, the institute is keen to establish Central Research Facility. The institute has already started its PhD programme, so that the research environment is further augmented, expanded, and made even more vibrant.

Campus life/Infrastructure

Hostel Facilities

The Institute campus houses five hostels: four for boys (Mercury Wings A & B, Jupiter and Neptune Houses) and one for girls (Venus House). The hostels are well equipped for comfortable lodging and boarding of approximately 550 students. All hostels are provided with water coolers and RO water filter systems. Each hostel has a common room that provides facilities for indoor recreation and games. The hostel complex also includes two laundry centers. High speed internet is available via wireless internet (spread in the complete campus area) and LAN connections provided by BSNL India. The day-to-day management of hostels is taken care of by a committee consisting of student representatives, faculty members (as Wardens) and administrative staff (caretakers, office-heads). Institute has its own independent post office opened for the staff and students of the institute. SBI (State Bank of India) has a well operational branch inside the campus premises.

Medical Facility

The institute has allocated a separate building, which adjoins the hostel complex, for its medical facility. A doctor and a nurse have been appointed to attend to medical emergencies of the campus residents. In addition the institute relies upon a few super-speciality hospitals in the city of Ropar for providing medical care to its members.

Football field at IIT Ropar

Sports Facilities

The students of the institute, apart from showing excellent academic progress, are keen to pursue their interests in sports and games. To nurture these interests, the institute provides several facilities. At present, the institute has a cricket field, three tennis courts, a football field, a hockey field, a gymnasium, a basketball court, a volleyball court and also a number of facilities for several athletics. The institute also encourages its students to participate in the inter-IIT competition which is held every year in December at different IIT campuses across India and other competitions.

The Students Activity Center (SAC) has a well equipped gymnasium and rooms for different activity clubs such as the Music Club, Dance Club and the Fine Arts Club.

Central Library

The Central Library functions as the primary information resource and repository for all teaching and research activities at the institute. Apart from textbooks and recommended reading material prescribed for each course offered at the institute, the library houses a growing collection of research monographs, reports, multi-volume reference works, dictionaries, encyclopaedias, handbooks, and so on. In addition, the library also facilitates access to a number of journals through its participation in consortia such as INDEST-AICTE. At present, users can consult more than 4000 books (available on shelves) and hundreds of journals (through electronic subscription).[9]

Security

The institute has ensured that its campus and residents are safe and secure. To accomplish this, a security agency has been entrusted with the task of providing security to its personnel and resources.

The beautiful campus has a peaceful environment.[10]

Extra Curricular Activities

Societies & Clubs

There are various societies being run by the student body at the institute to promote extra currulicular and co-curricular activities. These clubs ensure participation from the students in different institute level activities & competitions, and prepare them for inter-college competitions. The Fine Arts Club, The Music Society, The Dance Club, LitSoc- The Literary Society, The Chess Club, The Athletics Club, The Creative Writing Club, Science and Technology Club, etc. are managed by the respective student representatives and a secretary.

Music Society

The Music Society provides performance opportunities and brings live music to events during the academic year. Anyone who has an interest in playing an instrument, singing or appreciating music is welcome to join. In the Student Activity Center, is a music room with various instruments including a complete drum set, acoustic and electric guitars, and a keyboard. All details regarding this society can be found at http://iitrprmusicsociety.webs.com/

Events held

Alumni Association

The IIT Ropar Alumni Association is an association for the 300+ alumni of the institute. It has an office at the campus.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The Institutes of Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2010" (PDF). 23 August 2010.
  2. ↑ "LS passes bill to provide IIT status to 8 institutes, BHU". Deccan Herald (New Delhi). 24 March 2011. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
  3. ↑ "Parliament passes IIT bill". The Times of India. 30 April 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  4. ↑ IANS/Indo-Asian News Service (7 August 2009). "IIT Punjab to start working from its new campus Aug 20". New Delhi: TwoCircles.net. Retrieved 2013-02-06.
  5. ↑ "Big milestone: IIT-Punjab classes from August 20". The Times of India. 21 July 2009.
  6. ↑ "PhD Admissions". Indian Institute of Technology Ropar. January 2012. Archived from the original on 14 January 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
  7. ↑ "Faculty". Indian Institute of Technology Ropar. Archived from the original on 4 May 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
  8. ↑ "Aston University welcomes IIT Ropar students". Aston University. Archived from the original on 14 March 2011. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
  9. ↑ "Central Library". Indian Institute of Technology Ropar. Archived from the original on 4 May 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
  10. ↑ "IIT Ropar's Gallery (7 Albums)". Picasa Web Albums. 8 May 2010. Retrieved 6 February 2013.

External links