This is question being asked by the overwhelming majority of our community who supports conversion, as well as a small group of minorities who feels that IT-BHU had its own brand image. Let us outline the advantages of becoming an IIT:
a) More govt. funding:
One immediate benefit of becoming an IIT is the increase in govt. support and funding. Our annual funding of Rs. 50 crores /year will increase to IIT level (average of Rs. 110 crores/yr) starting from next academic year (June 2008-April 2009). We will also receive about Rs. 30-50 crores of research grants per year, just like other IITs.
We will also receive generous amount of funding to improve our aging infrastructure. The amount is yet to be finalized. It will help improve our hostels, staff quarters, departments, labs, workshop, lecture halls, libraries, facilities, computer center, internet connectivity, etc.
b) Attracting students:
The academic standard of our college was always at par with IITs. With the official recognition, we will receive more number of students with better IIT-JEE ranks. With more hostels, departments, etc. in place due to planned infrastructure improvement, we can accommodate more students. Currently, we admit about 600 undergraduate (B. Tech) and 200 M. Tech students each year.
c) Attracting faculty:
Currently we have about 280 strong faculty on our campus. We also have very good faculty to student ratio of 1:7, compared to IITs, which have ratios ranging from 1:8 to 1:10. With increased funding due to coming IIT status, we can hire more faculties. For the past two years, we have kept on hold a plan to hire 110 more teachers.
With IIT status and brand name, we will be able to attract the faculty as we need. The existing and new faculty will receive IIT pay-scales, which is higher than current UGC (University Grant Commission) pay-scales. Also, the lowest faculty position in an IIT scheme is that of Assistant Professor (compared to lecturer position in current UGC scheme), giving further advantage to teaching staff.
d) Attracting campus jobs:
Our college already enjoys perfect placement for campus jobs. For the past several years, our TPO (Training and Placement Office) has been able to attract diverge companies for campus interview and provided placement to ALL the students who opted for it. For undergraduates, there is on average two offers per student.
After becoming an IIT, we will see many companies making bee-line to our campus with higher pay-package. We shall then be able to attract diverse and global companies in finance, banking, management, cutting-edge research, etc. We will also witness some direct overseas posting for our graduates.
e) Better brand image and recognition:
With acquiring IIT status, our public image will vastly improve. With the blessing of our parliament, we shall become INI (Institutes of National Importance) and shall receive special govt. funding and support. With becoming a part of IIT league, our prestige will enhance further nationally as well as internationally. This will help our students to get training/internship/study abroad.
f) Improving ranking:
With IIT tag, our magazine ranking will improve. In last year’s rankings by 3 national magazines, we came within top 10 in two of the magazines. Now we will try to come within top 5 or even among top 3 engineering colleges.
With so many IITs (now16 including all announced) coming up and as some of the NITs are also improving their rankings, it would have been difficult for us without IIT tag to come even among top 20 colleges. This would have affected our public image, quality of admitted students, job placement, etc.