IIT Roorkee Introduces New Curriculum For BTech, BArch, BS, And Integrated MTech Programmes, Revision Of Curriculum After A Decade

After a decade, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee has updated its undergraduate curriculum. On February 22 this year, the Institute Senate, the highest academic decision-making body, approved the new curriculum. According to IIT-Roorkee, the new curriculum would be available to students admitted to all BTech, BArch, BS-MS, and Integrated MTech programmes.

The institute has introduced concepts that distinguish its curriculum from others in the country, such as mandatory courses in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Data Science, Indian Knowledge System (IKS), Tinkering and Mentoring, Talent Enhancement Baskets (TEB), Entrepreneurship, Environmental Science and Sustainability (ESSC), Community Outreach (CORE), soft skills, and others.

Furthermore, students will be able to pursue theme-based minor specialisations, design thinking-based projects, and much more.

The curriculum was created with the NEP 2020 standards in mind, according to a statement from IIT-Roorkee. The new curriculum has been built using the philosophy 'STEPS' (Science, Technology, Entrepreneurship, Project-based Education, and Societal commitment) to increase structure flexibility. After great discussion, the institute has opted to focus on students' general growth based on their interests rather than forcing them to take pre-programmed courses.

The number of credits necessary for core courses has been reduced, but the number of elective programme courses, humanities and social sciences, community outreach, open elective courses, entrepreneurship, and other components has increased.