Bhubaneswar, Oct 17: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneswar, as part of its new initiative towards creating outstanding teachers and add value to the education system of India, has introduced a 4-year B.Sc-B.Ed Integrated Teacher Education Program (ITEP) from the 2023-24 academic year. The classes for the first batch of 50 students from different states of India have commenced from 17th October 2023. The students were selected via National Common Entrance Test (NCET) conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
IIT Bhubaneswar is one among the two IITs (including IIT Kharagpur) to start the Program this year. The institute has offered the Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) with Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Economics. Students enrolled in this program will complete their studies within a condensed timeframe of four years, unlike the conventional five-year duration mandated by the current B.Ed. Curriculum.
To maximize the effectiveness of this new important program, separate interactive orientations were held for the students, their parents and associated faculty. Prof. ShreepadKarmalkar, Director, IIT, Bhubaneswar, along with experts including Prof. Harish Chandra Singh Rathore, Former Vice-Chancellor, Central University of Bihar and Prof. Prakash Chandra Agarwal, Principal, Regional Institute of Education, Bhubaneswar, highlighted the unique features. They also responded to the questions along with the ITEP coordinators - Dr. RajanJha, Head, School of Basic Sciences and Dr. DukhabandhuSahoo, Head, School of Humanities, Social Sciences & Management and Deans – Dr. Rajesh Roshan Dash, Dean (Student Affairs) and Dr. Shantanu Pal, Dean (Undergraduate Programs).
The orientation was held in an Active Learning Classroom, where learners are seated in groups of three on movable chairs around round tables to promote interactions and collaborative activities. Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Karmalkar pointed out that ITEP students are the first batch who will have the privilege of undergoing their entire education in an active learning environment, which promotes communication, collaboration and critical thinkingskills essential for success in any profession including teaching. Further, in contrast to students of other Programs, the assessment of ITEP students will include a component involving demonstration of teaching skills in all courses undergone by them.
He also noted that majority of ITEP students were women though there is no reservation for women in the ITEP Program.
