In BITS and pieces

`THE whole object of education is to develop the mind. The mind should be a thing that works.' If Sherwood Anderson's views on education were to be realised, it could only be possible at one place in India - the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani. A sprawling campus, full fledged laboratories, opportunities for creative expression, to develop technical expertise, to exercise the mind and body to its fullest capacity, and gain invaluable practical exposure, all supported by good infrastructure and amenities is an unbeatable combination. BITS reigns as one of the leading universities in India, and one, whose certification is valued abroad. Hardly a surprise then, that `BITSians' have an edge over others in terms of campus placements. Certainly, winning careers are made here.

The university is located at Vidya Vihar, near Pilani in Rajasthan and runs various educational institutions. Not only is the institute famous, but has also made the city of Pilani a landmark of sorts. The BITS educational trust in collaboration with other educational societies takes care of educational establishments - from a Balika Vidyapeeth, Shishu Vihar and a home science college to numerous commerce/arts colleges and polytechnics. However, the institute is most popular for its specialised courses in science and technology.

Started by the famous industrialist, the late Mr. G.D. Birla, as a small school, the institute became a `deemed university' in 1964. Admission into BITS is through various avenues. For integrated first-degree programmes (equivalent to a graduate degree), the admissions are based on the aggregate scored in Intermediate (12th standard). For higher degree programmes (M.Sc, MS, MA, etc) however, there are various specific tests and interviews.

The first-degree programmes offer courses which the student can complete either within 8 semesters or less/more than that. However, the degree awarded will be a BE (Hons), B.Pharm. (Hons.), M.M.S (Master of Management Studies), M.Sc. (Hons.), M.Sc. (Tech.), and M.A. (Hons.). The higher degree programmes also are structured in such a way that the student has to concentrate on the number of electives rather than the duration. In the higher degree programme, there are two alternatives available, either the dissertation or practice school.

Students can opt for a dual degree programme. This is a popular option because it enables students to complete two first-degree programmes. Unlike the IITs and other engineering colleges, BITS does not ask for either a SAT or GATE score. Again, there is no special quota for foreign or NRI students.

BITS also offers on- and off-campus doctorate degrees. While the on-campus Ph.D is open to students who have done the higher degree programme from the institute, the off-campus one is open to professionals wishing to undertake research in their professional fields.

Besides humanities and sciences, the engineering and technical courses that are the most popular at BITS. A student applying to BITS has a wide range of course combination to choose from. In the science stream (BE, first-degree), mechanical, electrical, electronics, and computer science are some of the popular ones. In technology (M.Sc Tech), engineering technology, information systems and finance are offered.

NSS, IEEE, seminars and various research and development wings provide students with the opportunity to practice what they learn. Practice school (PS) is a particularly notable feature. Those opting for PS get a taste of work life and the opportunity to utilise their skills. PS stations are present in almost all functional areas across the country, in all industries. Its also a profitable trade off, students simultaneously earn and learn, while industries get to train and benefit from some of the most talented minds!

The latest offering on the educational palate is the virtual university. It's a boon for those who cannot physically participate in institutional activities. Though relatively new, with a few pilot programmes in the pipeline, the virtual university promises to take off once it is well received by the student body. To make the experience as real as possible, classrooms, laboratories, and course curriculum and study programmes have been structured with care, subject to improvements along the way.

Placement opportunities for graduating students are many. IT, mechanical engineering, electronics and instrumentation are some of the courses that get the maximum number of placement opportunities. HLL, Wipro, ITC, Motorola, Infosys and L&T are some of the top firms that come for campus recruitment.

In order to cater to the needs of the vast student body from all over the country, the institute has separate hostel facilities for boys and girls. There are also various recreational facilities such as the Recreational Activity Forum, the photography, radio, swimming, cuckoo clubs, and dance and music workshops that give students enough room for creative expression.

The admission fee ranges from Rs 10,000 to 12,000 depending on the course. Thereafter, the student has to pay semester/ term wise fees (approximately Rs 6,500 - 17/1800/-) and an additional amount for other miscellaneous items (hostel, food, electricity, union fee, aid fund, caution deposit etc). The hostel fees for on-campus students are semester wise. For first and second semesters, it is Rs 50/-, and for the summer term, Rs 20/-.

What more can one may ask with an education from one of the top educational institutions in India? The future is secure and sky is the limit!

Samyukta Koda

samyukta.hyd@cnkonline.com