The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has introduced the ‘IITM School Connect’ programme to assist students in making informed decisions regarding their higher education and career paths. To reach this goal, two certificate course programmes in ‘Data Science and Artificial Intelligence‘ and ‘Electronic Systems’ are being provided to school students.
According to the official statement, the courses have been designed by IIT Madras professors, with content specifically tailored for school students. These courses will be taught online and are aimed at providing hands-on career experience for Class XI and XII students.
Highlighting the importance of this programme to the development of students, Prof. Andrew Thangaraj, Chair, Centre for Outreach and Digital Education (CODE), IIT Madras, said:
As India’s top Institute, IIT Madras sees it as our social responsibility to help school students explore various career options at an early stage while they are still in school. Currently, we are offering two key courses—Data Science and AI and Electronic Systems; we plan to introduce more such hands-on programmes in the coming months, catering to a broader range of interests.
The key highlights of this programme include recorded lecture videos, hands-on training, live interactions, assignments, and computer-based assessment for certification. The courses will be for eight weeks. The initiative has attracted substantial interest, with over 500 schools across India partnering with IIT Madras. As many as 11,000 students across India have enrolled in the first batch. These certification programmes are open to all Classes XI & XII partnered school students.
Prof. Prathap Haridoss, Dean (Academic Courses), IIT Madras, stated:
It is heartening to see school students independently building remotely controlled robots. Students pursuing the Data Science course have engaged in hands-on projects, using datasets to extract meaningful insights. Courses such as these expose the students to the various disciplines and help children identify their interests and strengths.
The next batch will commence on 21st October 2024. Registrations for this batch commenced on 16th September 2024. Schools interested in partnering with IIT Madras can register at the official website: school-connect.study.iitm.ac.in.
Prof. Vignesh Muthuvijayan, Faculty Coordinator, BS Degree, IIT Madras, also emphasized the benefits for school students, saying:
The response from schools and students has been overwhelmingly positive. We are thrilled to collaborate with schools nationwide to offer these short programmes for children. Children are naturally inquisitive, and it’s always a pleasure to interact with them as they come with many questions. Nurturing their curiosity is both fulfilling and essential for shaping their future.
As India’s leading Institute, IIT Madras is deeply committed to assisting young minds in making informed decisions about their higher education choices. In the coming days, the Institute will launch additional short-term programmes across many disciplines to introduce students to a wide range of study opportunities. These programmes will provide students with a unique opportunity to explore several career pathways while gaining practical insights into their future academic pursuits, knowing that IIT Madras supports and guides them.
