Dec 29 2014 : The Times of India (Delhi)
IITian brain drain declines due to emergence of IIMs
Ramya M
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Chennai
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For decades, IITians have been faulted for leaving the country in search of greener pastures. But now, contrary to public perception, the brain drain from the premier technical institutions to foreign shores is declining.According to faculty members, the number of students from IIT-Madras S going overseas for higher studies and jobs has dropped from around 50% in the t 1980s to around 15% in the last couple of years. Of the Y 800 BTech and dual degree students graduating from IIT-Madras in 2015, only 2 10% are likely to leave the country , said placement advisor Babu Viswanathan. 2 Of the 661 BTech and dual degree candidates who passed out in 2013-14, 100 left for foreign shores, including 88 to the US and two to Canada. In the 2012-13 academic year, only 40 of the 640 graduates went overseas for jobs or higher studies. “The number of students going overseas for higher edu cation is declining. The brain r drain has almost stopped.
This year, around 10% have , signed up to go abroad, but , note that an equal number is staying back to start their o own ventures. It's a positive trend because we can retain t talent,“ said dean, internag tional and alumni relations, IIT-Madras, R Nagarajan. c “There is a bigger drain of students from core branches r to non-core companies during placements,“ he added. He said this was one area that the IITs were seen as lacking when compared to foreign universities. But, with support for entrepreneurship in the institute -ranging from minors courses, an MS in Entrepreneurship, deferred placements, and offers to incubate startups with poten ate startups with poten tial -students are reth inking their plans.
Professor Viswa nathan said the emer gence of institutes such as the Indian Institute of Management within the country contributed to the decrease in num bers. “In recent years, 50% of those who go for higher studies choose the IIMs. They have seen that there is good value in doing an MBA here af ter IIT,“ he said.Faculty members, howev er, added that a little overseas experience was not a bad thing. For international exposure, students find the institute's many MoUs with foreign institutions come in handy .
This year, around 10% have , signed up to go abroad, but , note that an equal number is staying back to start their o own ventures. It's a positive trend because we can retain t talent,“ said dean, internag tional and alumni relations, IIT-Madras, R Nagarajan. c “There is a bigger drain of students from core branches r to non-core companies during placements,“ he added. He said this was one area that the IITs were seen as lacking when compared to foreign universities. But, with support for entrepreneurship in the institute -ranging from minors courses, an MS in Entrepreneurship, deferred placements, and offers to incubate startups with poten ate startups with poten tial -students are reth inking their plans.
Professor Viswa nathan said the emer gence of institutes such as the Indian Institute of Management within the country contributed to the decrease in num bers. “In recent years, 50% of those who go for higher studies choose the IIMs. They have seen that there is good value in doing an MBA here af ter IIT,“ he said.Faculty members, howev er, added that a little overseas experience was not a bad thing. For international exposure, students find the institute's many MoUs with foreign institutions come in handy .
