KIIT Nurturing future entrepreneurs, Olympians & thought leaders Set up with only `5000, two teachers & 12 students in 1992, KIIT today offers more than 400 programmes across disciplines SPECIAL FEATURE: Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology | 20 | The Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) at Bhubaneswar in Odisha is much more than just a learning ground for the tens of thousands of students who have passed out from here. The Deemed-tobe-University has anchored successful start-ups, groomed Olympians and produced corporate leaders who have contributed richly to the economy both at home and abroad. As KIIT celebrates its silver jubilee this year, one is reminded of the challenges the university had to overcome to emerge as a premier centre of learning. It has been adjudged the 20th-best University in the country by the Ministry of Education’s National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF). It enjoys strong industry-academia linkages and research accomplishments. The National Assessment and Accreditation Council of India has accorded it an A++ grade, a coveted status enjoyed by very few universities in the country. The credit for this remarkable transformation of KIIT in a short span of 25 years goes to Founder Dr Achyuta Samanta. Dr Samanta started KIITwith only Rs 5,000, 12 students and two teachers in early 1992. Today, the institute is home to more than 30,000 students and also runs two well-known centres under its aegis. They are the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), the largest university worldwide for indigenous students and the Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS). “KIIT is home to one of the most diverse campuses in India and is a veritable melting pot of nations, cultures and ethnicities.” KIIT offersmore than 400 programmes across disciplines and comprises over 3,000 faculties and researchers. KIIT is home to one of the most diverse campuses in India and is a veritable melting pot of nations, cultures and ethnicities. It enjoys an enviable reputation of having the largest number of foreign students on any campus in Eastern India. The Founder has often described KIIT as a successful social venture that has no parallels in the education sector. While educational institutes set up around the same time continue to struggle for recognition, KIIT has not only emerged as a sought-after destination for engineering aspirants, but it also draws students from 65 different countries and is ranked in the cohort of 601-800 in the Times Higher Education’s World University Ranking for 2023. Estimates suggest that over 2 lakh indirect employment opportunities have been generated by KIIT over the last two decades. The mushrooming of commercial enterprises in and around the sprawling 25 sq km campus and an ongoing real estate boom illustrates the socio-economic impact brought by KIIT in the state of Odisha in general and the state capital Bhubaneswar in particular. What makes KIIT an ideal destination for students is the thrust on research activities and an enabling ecosystem that supports new ideas. KIIT has funded research projects worth over Rs 300 crore over the years. KIIT boasts 36 research centres of excellence within the Central Research Facility spread over 1 lakh sq ft. A substantial portion of the University’s budget is allocated to students’ research projects. The University also assists with research paper presentations at national and international conferences. Taking advantage of KIIT’s academic collaborations, a large number of students are admitted to the world’s top universities every year. For the industry, KIIT has emerged as a sought-after destination for hiring the best minds. It has placed 65,000 alumni through on-campus placement. In 2022, over 700 In 2022, over 700 companies visited the campus with 6,010 job offers. companies visited the campus with 6,010 job offers. In 2021, the campus achieved record placement with over 350 top companies committing more than 5,000 job offers for 3,500 eligible B.Tech students. Five students of 2022 batch have bagged the highest CTC of Rs 52 lakh per annum. What makes KIIT a sought-after destination for higher education is its curriculum and sustained focus on research and innovation. The curriculum design is flexible and KIIT offers an open credit system with multiple entry and exit options. It has redefined engineering education in the country and set benchmarks in teaching pedagogies and research outputs. The engineering programmes provide exposure to real field issues through a variety of academic activities at undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral levels. Most of the engineering departments have adopted the novel concept of a ‘tutor mentorship programme’, attaching 10-15 students with experienced faculty who help, guide and nurture them through regular interactive sessions. This initiative also helps students resolve personal problems. The Ministry of Education’s NIRF 2022 has awarded the University high scores in parameters such as teaching, learning and resources and graduation outcome. In the ‘outreach and inclusivity parameter’, the university got a score of 77.86. It was ranked the 8th best University in the world in the prestigious Times Higher Education Impact | 21 |
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