need for change
Nitin Saxena, Chairman, UGARC (Undergraduate Academic Program Review Committee), IIT Kanpur, says that students who have qualified for International Olympiads have already proven their abilities and do not need additional scrutiny in the form of IIT-JEE exam. Is. “Every year, six Indian students represent the nation in the globally acclaimed Olympiads. They go through a rigorous preparation process to undergo various Olympiads organized by the government,” he says.
Unfortunately, majority decide to pursue their higher education in institutions abroad. “This framework has been created to try and retain this extraordinary talent,” he added.
precise frame
Students who qualify for Olympiad can apply in the department of their particular subject. “The exact framework with regard to acceptance or disqualification of their candidature is up to the departments concerned. The department can decide to conduct a screening test – the process has not been decided yet. Based on their decision, the candidate’s application will be sent to the institute’s senate, which will take a final call regarding the candidate’s application,” says Saxena.
Saxena says the institute has introduced an alternative mechanism based on a key agreement. “There is no guarantee regarding the admission of these candidates. Several measures will be taken to ensure that only the most deserving candidates get admission in the institute through this route,” he added.
test preparation
Department Head (Chemistry) and Academic Head (FIITJEE Group) Partha Halder says that at present, there is minimal awareness about Olympiads among students as well as parents. “We screen candidates who appear for IIT-JEE preparation and introduce the best for Olympiads,” he says.
Since Olympiad is a specific exam, many students do not even consider the idea of attempting it. “As of now, the Olympiad is only about the prestige of qualifying for the exam, as it is not a mass level exam. Getting direct admission into some of the top engineering institutes in the country through Olympiads is still a foreign concept to many,” says Halder.
Parents also confuse the local level Olympiad with the exam conducted by the government. “We have a long journey before the concept of Olympiad becomes famous among students and parents alike,” says Halder.
similar concept elsewhere
IIT Bombay had introduced a similar concept for admission in the institute in 2018. Avinash Mahajan, Dean (Academic Programs), IIT Bombay says, “Candidates who qualify for International Mathematics Olympiad are eligible to apply for Bachelor of Science in Mathematics programme. . The institute has earmarked six seats for the respective students. However, the final admission depends on a screening process, which will then be decided by the respective department and finally the Senate of the institution.
Explaining the reason behind introducing the concept only to maths students, Mahajan says, “Generally speaking, maths students have already decided that this will be their chosen area of specialization. Along the Olympiad route, we give them the option to stay focused by not preparing for other subjects to appear in the IIT-JEE exam. ”
Mahajan said that since 2018 the institute has taken some admissions on the basis of Olympiad route.
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