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Chief Minister, Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma Lauds IIT Guwahati For Its Contribution To The State During Pandemic

Himanta Biswa Sarma who was the Chief Guest of IIT Guwahati’s Foundation Day, celebrated today (1st September 2021), highlighted the Institute’s support, leadership role and collaboration with State Government Officials.

He appreciated the contributions of the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic.

CM Sarma said that unlike other IITs of the country, IIT, Guwahati is the result of historic Assam Agitation. It came into existence as a result of the collective aspirations of the people of the State. 

“I am aware that the Institute has been providing various sophisticated instruments to National Health Mission (NHM) officials in Assam to carry out testing for COVID-19 from the initial stages of this pandemic itself. The Institute manufactured and commercialized all the COVID-19 related kits in Assam along with an industry partner. I advise the Institute to collaborate with the state to improve the standards of Science and Mathematics Education, do more consultancy with their soul and dedication and enhance outreach activities so that the State Government benefits from the expertise of IIT Guwahati faculty, students and alumni,” he further added.

Addressing the Event, Prof. T.G. Sitharam, Director, IIT Guwahati said, “IIT Guwahati as an Institute realized the necessity of quick shift to virtual teaching, in fact, the institute had the first virtual convocation on time. We are thinking to reopen the campus for all the students earliest, we already have 2000 Research Scholars on the campus”.

Addressing the event, Prof. Gautam Barua, Director, Indian Institute of Information Technology Guwahati, said, “I will stress upon the quality of Teaching and precisely virtual teaching. Post pandemic one will never get back completely to the old style of teaching, online teaching will continue partially. Students will seek for online supplement material and we as teachers should be prepared for the same. Hybrid Teaching will be the new normal and teachers should update them with new Technology and Tools. Additionally, AI and ML are going to be the buzz words and topics to be pursued.”

Speaking on the occasion, Dr R. I Modi, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIT Guwahati, said, “The Institute has improved its position in Overall World Ranking to 350 in Nature Index Ranking and Ranked within top 10 in India overall as well as four subject categories. It has been ranked 7th (Engineering and Overall) in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) conducted by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, in the year 2020 and we are hoping this ranking to further improve this year. In Outlook Magazine and India Today also it has ranked in the top universities in India. This is a clear indication of the recognition the institution is getting from across the globe for the progress and efforts it has made in this short duration.”