IITs head West for head-hunting

To solve its faculty shortage problem, IITs are re-inventing their recruitment drives. A few IIT directors and senior professors are planning to personally visit the US — instead of just relying on skype and videoconferencing— and other foreign countries to hire the best. Vanita Srivastava reports.

To solve its faculty shortage problem, IITs are re-inventing their recruitment drives. A few IIT directors and senior professors are planning to personally visit the US — instead of just relying on skype and videoconferencing— and other foreign countries to hire the best.

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There are nearly 43% vacant faculty posts in all IITs. According to a recent reply in the Lok Sabha, against the total faculty strength of 6,076 in the 16 IITs across the country, there is a shortage of 2,608.

A team of senior professors from IIT-Kanpur, including the director and dean of faculty, will be visiting US from June 13-23 to interview prospective candidates.

“We are organising three events at both coasts: meeting prominent alumni and potential faculty candidate,” Manindra Agrawal, Dean of Faculty IIT-Kanpur told HT.

Pointing out that nearly half of its faculty comes from North America, Agrawal said “ We have a target of recruiting more than 100 faculty over next three years ... This is not to say that we are not focusing within India.”

IIT-Kharagpur, IIT-Delhi and IIT-Bombay are also planning similar programmes.

IIT-Delhi director RK Shevgaonkar said, “ I have plans to go with some senior faculty members on a recruitment drive to the US later this year.”

But added, “It is misleading to say that there is a shortage of faculty in IITs. Over the years the strength of students has increased, so obviously this will filter a shortage.”