Officials said a high-level team of IIT directors visited Ladakh district on Monday and examined the feasibility of setting up an engineering college. The team included the Director of IIT-Delhi, Professor V Ramgopal Rao, Professor Subhasis Choudhury of IIT-Bombay and Professor Abhay Karandikar of IIT-Kanpur.
The spokesperson said that the team interacted with officials and students at various IITs to explore fellowship opportunities for the students of the Union Territory.
Addressing the meeting, Rao said that Lt Governor Ladakh RK Mathur during his recent visit to IIT-Delhi discussed the possibility of setting up an engineering college in Kargil.
“The team’s visit is aimed to know the ground reality about the feasibility of setting up engineering college in the district and to assess the interest of the students in the field of engineering,” he said.
Professor M Balakrishnan, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, IIT-Delhi, spoke about the challenges faced by students in remote areas and stressed that students should go out for studies to gain exposure and more opportunities.
Responding to the queries of the students, the Director of IIT-Bombay spoke about the various branches of engineering and the career prospects in it.
Professor Karandikar talked about the annual fellowship program at IITs, incubation and innovation programs and internships for Ladakh students with IITs.
Later, the team of directors also visited Government Degree College, Kargil, where the Vice Principal apprised them about the overall functioning and various courses going on in the college.
He said that at present about 2,000 students are enrolled in the college, while 30 permanent and 23 contract teaching assistants are rendering their teaching services in the college.
Officials said the team interacted with the college students and Government Polytechnic College, Kargil and explained to them various aspects of the fellowship component.
He also sought feedback about his interest in fellowship programmes.
Earlier, the Chief Education Officer of Kargil apprised the team of enrollment of school students in the district.
He said that 32,000 students are studying in various schools of the district, out of which 3,000 are studying in science stream.
The CEO also said that at present there are 22 government and two private higher secondary schools functioning in the district.
Officials said the IITs are partnering with the Department of Higher Education, Ladakh to review various aspects of technical education to enhance employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for the youth of the Union Territory.
He said that the partnership aims to promote innovation and entrepreneurship focused on the local ecosystem, skill development to enhance employment opportunities, enhance the quality of education to enhance higher education opportunities and establish a quality engineering institute in Ladakh. To do. You have to find ways.
He said an ‘Expression of Interest’ which would be finalized based on the outcome of various meetings with stakeholders was expected to be signed between the consortium of IITs and the Department of Higher Education, Ladakh in the presence of the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh. on 22 September.
Based on the signed EOI, a detailed action plan with timelines would be prepared, the officials said.
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