IIT (ISM), Dhanbad Chairperson of Board of Governors Prem Vrat on Wednesday spoke during an online event as the institute celebrated its 95th anniversary. The chairman asked the faculty members, students, researchers and deans to focus on innovation, incubation, creativity, creation of center of excellence, increasing placement and packages, doubling research among other things.

Vrat, during his speech, said, “Foundation Day is an occasion for great celebration, it also provides an opportunity to introspect and find new opportunities and directions to consolidate its present achievement and develop strategies to exploit the potential multiplier effect that the brand IIT and brand ISM have to leapfrog at a faster rate to attain top ranks within the IIT system.”

“As an IIT, it is an opportunity as well as a challenge because now we have to find a respectable place for IIT (ISM) in the ranking within the IIT system by leveraging its strengths and overcoming its weaknesses to exploit future opportunities that are present in the higher technical education system in the context of the New Education Policy (NEP),” he said.

Several students and faculty members attended the event in both online and offline modes, the latter gathering at the conference hall of the administrative building of the institute.

“I would like to appeal to the Director, faculty, staff and students to initiate in a mission mode,efforts to make IIT (ISM)Dhanbad in the ranking of top five IITs by the time it celebrates its centenary celebration in five years from now,” Vrat added.

“Given the brand of IIT to brand ISM, I am optimistic that due to the multiplier effect of these two brands, we can achieve the fifth rank in the 23 member elite IIT system" claimed Vrat and added it shares similar legacy with IIT at Roorkee and BHU, Varanasi.

"I am of the view that we can aspire to be after IIT at Bombay, Chennai, Delhi and Kharagpur and benchmark ourselves with the best practices of other IITs, particularly of IIT Kharagpur,” he said.

“A committed task force can work on this mission and start by conducting SWOT analysis of IIT (ISM) Dhanbad and leverage its strengths and treat weaknesses as opportunities to improve,” said Vrat.

“A time comparison of key performance indicators with IITs at Kanpur, Roorkee, Guwahati and BHU will help together with benchmarking with IIT Kharagpur,” he advised..

Director of the institute, Rajiv Shekhar and Managing Director, Epiroch Mining India Limited also addressed the function through online mode.

Coal India Limited Director (technical) was also present as a guest of honour during the ceremony.

In an offline event held at the conference hall of the institute, five employees, who completed 25 years of service, were given long service awards. A team of the Chemical Engineering Department composed of professor Aditya Kumar, Kalpita Nath and Poonam Chauhan was given the Inder Mohan Thapar Research Award (2020).