The responsibility of kicking off the B.Tech programme for the proposed Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Rajasthan has only worsened the faculty crunch at the IIT in Kanpur.
The institute was already battling a faculty shortage of around 100 teachers, which has been further aggravated due to the addition of 120 students this year as part of the setting up of a temporary campus of the proposed IIT here.
The increase in the number of reserved seats from this year has also led to an increased student strength, resulting in more demand for faculty. Going by the rule book, the student-faculty ratio should be 10:1, for which the institute needs to employ at least 50 more teachers. According to
IIT-K director Sanjay Govind Dhande, currently there is one teacher for every 12 students.
Adding to the faculty woes of the institute are the lucrative job offers for the institute’s professors from various universities. Recently, six top professors from the institute were appointed vice-chancellors in various universities, including Meerut University, CSJM Kanpur and Gorakhpur University.
“There is a great demand for our professors in various universities all over the country and even abroad,” admitted Dhande. Besides, the teachers are opting for the private sector, attracted by higher pay packages and better facilities.
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In a bid to deal with the faculty crunch, the institute has recently recruited 36 new teachers at various posts. Dhande is also visiting other countries to “search for competent and academically bright teachers”.
The director also felt that in order to attract young professionals to faculty positions, the pay and allowance structure for the teaching staff should be far better than the present level.
“We have re-employed the retired professors to make up for the deficiency for the time being,” he added.