Changes aimed at improving industry exposure and placement opportunities for students

Introduction of Six-Month Internship in New BTech Curriculum

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has announced a major restructuring of its Bachelor of Technology (BTech) curriculum. Starting from the 2024-2025 academic batch, the institute will extend the duration of student internships to six months, up from the current three-month period. This change is expected to enhance the overall learning experience for students and improve their placement prospects in competitive job markets.

Internships Extended for Industry-Relevant Skill Development

Under the revised structure, the four-year BTech program will now incorporate a longer internship period that spans six months. Traditionally, internships were scheduled during the summer of the third year (sixth semester), lasting from May to July. However, feedback from industry professionals highlighted the need for a more substantial duration to assess student potential and gain meaningful contributions from them. Many companies had previously requested an extension of the internships until August, but this often clashed with academic commitments and exam schedules

Addressing Industry Demands

Professor Sathyanarayana N Gummadi, the Dean of Students at IIT Madras, explained that this change is driven by the growing demand from industry for more time to evaluate the capabilities of student interns. “Many industry professionals felt that the three-month internship period was insufficient to assess students effectively or to have them contribute significantly to projects. As a result, companies often requested interns to stay longer until August,” said Prof. Gummadi.

However, under the previous system, students were required to return to campus by the end of July to resume their core courses, which led to scheduling conflicts. The new six-month internship period, beginning in the summer of the third year, will resolve these timing issues, offering students a better balance between practical industry experience and academic requirements.

Impact on Student Placements

This restructuring of the BTech curriculum is expected to significantly benefit students’ career trajectories. By allowing more time for internships, students will be able to gain deeper insights into their chosen industries, build stronger professional networks, and enhance their skill sets. Moreover, this extended internship period will align better with the hiring cycles of major companies, improving students’ chances of securing competitive job offers even before graduation.

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