The Birla Institute of Technology (BIT) Mesra, Ranchi, hosted an unlikely visitor when the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, addressed students at its 70-year celebrations. As the Chancellor of this university, she said that BIT Mesra stands out because it’s strong in traditional engineering disciplines, as well as in emerging technological domains and management.
Prof Indranil Manna, vice-chancellor, BIT Mesra, added that despite a reportedly bleak placement scenario in many technical institutions, there has been a surge in the participation of next-generation companies on the campus, in an interview with FE’s Vikram Chaudhary. Excerpts:
BIT Mesra is located in a non-metro region. Is that a disadvantage?
Not at all, not especially in a digital age. We have been offering our students global learning experience and hands-on exposure through international collaborations, industry partnerships, and experiential learning. BIT Mesra follows a choice-based credit system, ensuring flexibility in education. To enhance global employability, BIT Mesra encourages foreign language learning. The Department of Management at BIT Mesra follows an outcome-based education philosophy, emphasising a student-centric, practical, and real-time approach to teaching and learning.
Faculty members use case studies, problem-solving exercises, management games, and presentations – the focus is on developing innovative thinking and nurturing next-generation leaders. Apart from teachers, students also gain hands-on experience through short research assignments and internships in leading organisations. Students in their final semester are encouraged to visit conferences, present papers, and publish them in leading journals.
What about your infrastructure?
We now have dedicated labs for AI, drone technology, 3D printing, and industrial automation. Students are encouraged to opt for open elective courses from online platforms like SWAYAM-NPTEL, ensuring credit transfer and flexible learning.We have a digitally-enabled campus, which integrates IoT and AI for smart infrastructure. We have also adopted learning management systems (LMS) like Moodle and Google Classroom.
There have been reports about a bleak placement scenario in many technical institutions…
Well, this year’s placement drive saw 68% of BTech students and 83% of MBA students securing opportunities with top companies. While legacy recruiters continue to reaffirm their confidence in the institute, there has also been a surge in the participation of next-generation companies on the campus. We have seen that from AI, fintech, and deep tech to renewable energy and digital commerce, students are stepping into roles that reflect the future of work.
And salaries?
The highest package offered was Rs 52 lakh per annum for BTech and Rs 10.5 lakh per annum for MBA, with competitive average salaries of Rs 12.05 lakh per annum for BTech and Rs 6.71 lakh per annum for MBA. The median salary stood at Rs 9.52 lakh per annum for BTech and Rs 7 lakh per annum for MBA.