Discrimination against Research Scholar going in Training and Placement : modified

[Abhimanyu Kar]

PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO AS MANY AS YOU CAN

Dear friends,

As you all know, every year research scholars, specially the project MS and PhD people face serious problems in the training and placement thing. Last year , some incidents of misbehavior towards RS students came into notice, along with that,  it was discovered with quite a surprise that the JNF form (which is to be filled by the student and companies can use them to have knowledge about the different courses and specializations offered by IITKgp) do not contain any entry for the MS and PhD courses.When we raised our voices against that last year, we were promised that from this year onward, research scholars will be properly represented in all the T&P functioning. But, during this year's core team selection process for T&P, research scholars were not considered eligible. When we asked the T&P in-charge Prof. Barai about the criteria, we were said that he is 'not comfortable' with a team consisting of research scholars. After that we demanded his opinion in writing and the answer is like it has been done as per IITKgp's 'tradition'!!!!

In that scenario, it seems that we do not have any option other than a mass protest. We are conducting a mass survey across the student community to get their views regrading this matter. Once we get the opinions, we will approach the Director, IITKgp with our demands.

Please spread the message among your friends.

I am pasting the letter we have shown to the Dean PGS&R, Prof. P. K.J. Mahapatra. The letter as well as the reply form T&P in-charge are enclosed as attachment.

 

To,

The Director

Postgraduate Studies and Research

IIT Kharagpur

 

Dated:- April 9^th, 2012

 

 

Sub:-Exclusion of Research Scholars from the Placement Committee.

 

 

Respected Sir,

 

            I would like to inform you that the notice of the Training and Placement (Dated-March 29, 2012) has called for applications from students interested in the Students' Placement Committee where the MS and PhD students of the institute are not eligible to apply for the same. However a large number of students of the institute are of the opinion that the Research Scholars should also be given a fair chance to be part of that committee.

 

The students' placement committee consists of 10-12 students who make contact with companies that would be visiting the campus. A rigorous selection process through a written test and interview is held every year to select these co-ordinators solely on the basis of merit. Given that there is not course based reservation in the committee it is widely accepted that the selection process aims a fair competition, which cannot be achieved by the exclusion of a certain class of students, namely Research Scholars. Moreover, many feel that any student both willing and capable for a post that serves the student community should be eligible to apply, while this kind of division leads to a prima facie discrimination among students of a veteran institute of this country. Given that each placement committee member contacts all kinds of companies regardless of from which course they wish to recruit, a PhD student who usually has the experience of completing his/her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and may also have work experience can be equally capable, if not better, to handle the UG and PG issues.

 

Apart from this, the inclusion of a Research Scholar in the placement committee may posses the following advantages:

 

1. Currently the institute is trying to be one of the top Research Institutes in the world (Vision 2020 project aims to make this institute one of the top 20 research institutes in the world). Since a research student is usually more knowledgeable about the activities of various R&D organisations inducting a research student can give a boost to the research oriented placements. This will be beneficial for the whole student community, as well as the institute since placements serves as one of the motivating factor to lure the nation’s most talented students in the institute.  One the other hand this kind of discrimination can make a grave injury to the confidence of Research Scholars, with great amount of potential, towards the course they chose.

 

2. A research student may have more knowledge about the academic system of MS and PhD degrees like expected course duration, method of calculation of CGPA and major specialisations.

 

I have met the professor-in-charge in this regard and had a brief conversation. He, however, is reluctant to allow research scholars as he is 'not comfortable' with a team consisting of research scholars. He is of the personal opinion that they might not be enough motivated to work in the team. He has expressed his desire to experiment with his own way of working for one year.

 

Given that placements is an issue of prime importance and sentiment to the student community it is my humble request to please instruct him to reconsider this as a large number of students feel that it is necessary as well as beneficial to allow PhD students. We would like to mention that no Research Scholar has ever been included in the placement committee. An inclusion of a research scholar rather than exclusion would be a less risky experiment to conduct.

 

With due respect to the Prof-in-Charge and his method of working I would like to admit that all categories students are the beneficiaries of the Training and Placement whose opinion if taken in this regard may be beneficial for themselves as well as the image of the institute.

 

Thanking you

 

 

 

(Abhimanyu Kar)

Research Scholars' Representative

Institute Senate

 

 

 

The signature of some the students who also have the same opinion are attached along with.

--
Abhimanyu Kar

Research Scholars' Representative
Institute Senate
IIT Kharagpur