Education Minister Reviews NIT, IIEST; Focus on Students

The Union Education Minister chaired a high-level review meeting on the functioning of NIT Kurukshetra and IIEST Shibpur, announcing a series of measures aimed at improving student well-being and campus life across higher educational institutions.

The meeting assessed academic environment, hostel management and campus culture, highlighting the need for urgent steps to enhance student engagement, faculty involvement and overall institutional functioning.

Among immediate measures, the Ministry announced upgrades to hostel facilities and a structured faculty development programme focused on mentoring, academic support and fostering a positive campus culture. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) will also be introduced to strengthen student participation in academic and extracurricular activities.

In the medium term, institutions will see enhanced sports and recreational infrastructure, structured capacity-building programmes, and increased alumni engagement through leadership talks and innovation-driven initiatives.

The Ministry has also proposed broader reforms for all higher educational institutions, including setting up an apex committee on campus culture and developing a comprehensive framework to address academic and infrastructural challenges.

Earlier, a high-level committee was constituted to review the governance and functioning of NIT Kurukshetra, following recent administrative developments at the institute.

The government said these steps aim to create a more vibrant, student-centric and supportive campus environment nationwide.