Union education minister reviews NIT Kurukshetra, IIEST Shibpur; announces student well-being measures

In a push to improve student well-being, the Centre on Tuesday announced a set of immediate and medium-term measures following a review of National Institute of Technology (NIT) Kurukshetra and Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST) Shibpur. In a statement issued here, the Union education ministry said the meeting -- chaired by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan -- was attended by the chairperson of the Board of Governors, NIT Kurukshetra, secretary (Higher Education), and other senior officials of the ministry. The meeting discussed matters relating to NIT Kurukshetra and IIEST Shibpur, besides overall student well-being across higher education institutions, the statement said. A detailed review of academic environment, campus life and hostel management was held during the meeting. It was observed that urgent steps are required to enhance campus vibrancy and strengthen systems for constructive student engagement. The Union minister stressed the need to identify specific themes for intervention, including student engagement, faculty orientation, alumni involvement, academic support, innovation culture, hostel governance, sports culture and overall campus management, the statement said. The meeting also discussed standardising faculty recruitment, ensuring sensitive and proactive faculty representation in boards of governors, and appointing committed individuals with adequate time as chairpersons of such boards. With regard to administrative and academic issues at NIT Kurukshetra, the ministry had constituted a high-level committee on March 29 under the provisions of the NITSER Act 2007 to review the work, progress, governance, and overall functioning of the institute. The panel has been tasked with assessing academic and administrative performance, recruitment and grievance-related issues, and institutional indicators, and is likely to submit its report shortly. A delegation led by the secretary (Higher Education) visited NIT Kurukshetra on April 24 and interacted with stakeholders. On the same day, the resignation of the director of the institute was accepted by the visitor of NITs, and the in-charge registrar was placed under suspension with immediate effect, the ministry said in the statement. As part of decisions taken to ensure a student-centric campus, the ministry announced several immediate measures, including upgrade of hostel facilities, a structured faculty upgradation programme during May-June 2026 focusing on campus life, student mentoring, well-being, academic support and campus culture, with visible outcomes expected by July 2026, and the development of standard operating procedures to institutionalise student engagement and innovation. Among medium-term measures, the ministry said adequate sports facilities will be ensured and regular competitions will be organised to promote holistic development. It also announced structured capacity-building programmes for faculty and academic administrators, and enhanced alumni engagement through leadership talks and activities aimed at promoting innovation, entrepreneurship and a ''can-do'' culture. The government also outlined interventions for all higher educational institutions under the ministry, including the constitution of an apex committee on campus culture comprising directors, alumni, faculty and students to suggest and monitor measures for a vibrant, student-centric campus, the statement said. An overarching framework will be developed to address academic and infrastructural issues across higher education institutions, with a focus on student well-being and institutional ambience. Efforts will also be made to promote sports culture and review and revamp academic blocks, laboratories, libraries, hostels, mess facilities and recreational clubs on priority, it said. The government is committed to ensuring a renewed, upgraded and student-friendly campus culture nationwide, it added.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)