Skill Improvement Groups/ Special Interest Groups contribute to constant updation of knowledge and enrichment of practical skills. The main objective of this practice is to provide quality education and to enhance the Employability Quotient of the students. Our main aim is to provide Industry Ready Professionals. SIGs act like bridging the gap between Academic and Industry and skill up the students making them fit for 4.0 industries ready.
The prime objective of the New Education Policy (2017) is to “make India a knowledge superpower by equipping its students with the necessary skills and knowledge”. The needs of the industries keep on changing and it is a prerequisite for us to change and modify the curriculum, pedagogies and evaluation procedures accordingly. The new digital age has compelled us to move towards OBE (Outcome Based Education). At the end of the programme, the students are expected to possess skills and knowledge on par with the demands of the challenging job market. Lack of training leads to unskilled labourers and in turn may result in unemployment and underemployment. To solve this problem IIST started new concept in year 2018-19 i.e special Interest Groups (SIGs)/ Skill improvement Groups which provide certified skill courses, Training, Internship, Workshops, Expert Lecture etc on latest research areas and technologies. Our special Interest Groups (SIGs) are based on Industry requirements on advanced technologies and tools. To enhance the industrial knowledge and latest technology we have invited/appointed experts from industry through our MoUs and association for giving training to our students.
The special Interest Groups (SIGs) are planned in such a manner it does not affect the academics. Therefore, SIGs are scheduled after examination and before the beginning of
a new session in every semester or combine with regular time tables with extra hours. Right from the first year, branch wise SIGs are conducted during academics as regular practices.
In year 2018-19, Institute conducted 29 different activities under 17 different SIG’s. In year 2019-20, Institute conducted 30 different activities under 20 different SIG’s. In year 2020-21, Institute conducted 35 different activities under 21 different SIG’s. In year 2021-22, Institute conducted 30 different activities under 21 different SIG’s.
During the situation of Covid-19 pandemic when offline conduction of SIGs was not possible, Institute adopted a system of online training on various software and technical skills were conducted wherein experts trained the students from far flung areas could learn the skills.
Special Interest Groups (SIGs) like Block Chain, Data Analytics, Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Renewable Energy, Internet of Things (IOT), Robotics, Mechatronics, Sustainable Development through Energy Efficient & Green Buildings, Machine Learning, Waste to wealth Automotive, ChemPro Solution, Design & Fabrication, Android & IOSApp Development, Earthquake Resistant Design, Robotics Process Automation, Building & Project Planning, Rain Water Harvesting etc was formed based on emerging area or Industry 4.0 requirement. Conducted various Certificate Course, Internship, Training, Workshop, expert lecture etc under above SIG’s help students to be updated with latest technologies, receive fresh perspectives in their subject, provides relevance and orientation, practical outlook to their studies.
The Industry Institute Interaction helps students to bridge the gap between industrial expectations and educational outcomes. The staff and student members interact with industrial experts, acquire the necessary skills to become industry worthy and meet the employers’ expected level of workplace preparedness.
Institute categories the SIG’s based on evaluate criteria. In first category, more than 30 hours Certificate course, Internship, Training conducted under different SIG’s is evaluated through Quiz or coding competition and after fulfillment of criteria institute issue the completion certificate. In second category the Internship, Training, workshop conducted under different SIG’s is evaluated through project based / task based / assignment based and after fulfillment of criteria institute issue the completion certificate and in last category based on attendance institute issue the completion certificate.
Various evidence of success is as follows:
01 lakhs cash prize each and also one team selected for final of eYantra robotics competition with project title Agro-Drone and in the year 2022, again 6 teams selected for final of SIH.
Drone etc.
15 was top selection as per Internshala platform.
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Best Practices 2: Green Wave Movement
“Learning to live sustainably’ is the core idea of constituting “Green Waves” Club for Green wave movement. It is not just yet another extracurricular activity but the integral part of the value system followed by Indore Institute Science & Technology to promote awareness not only inside the campus but to the wider world.
Many Green initiatives are started under Green Waves Club as movement to conserve the nature at the campus and to inculcate the sense of responsibility towards Mother Nature among students and all the staff members.
The club was inaugurated on 1st July 2018 by Hon’ble Chief guest Shri Patanjali (Principal Commissioner of Income Tax, Bhopal) who has worked for cleaning river Ganga and hosted sadhguru during “Rally for Rivers” campaign.
Under the visionary leadership of Shri Arun S Bhatnagar, Director General of IIST, who conceived this novel project and plan to engage the stake holder of the institute toward this noble cause of saving the environment.
The novel initiative of launching of “Green Waves” Club at IIST lies in the fact that it moves beyond theories and textbooks aiming at solely concentrating on ‘doing’ to save the mother earth. It is an environmental activity directed to subtly sensitize students, Staff members and others through thought provoking ideas to curtail the mining of natural resources.
Green Waves Club is established with following objectives –
After rigorous discussion with the AEC / IQAC, students and various other stakeholders, it was decided to develop a campus which is eco-friendly with the main purposes of making the campus-Green, Pollution Free, Noise Free and with the facility of Water Harvesting. The development and deployment of greenery across the campus makes the students learn the courses with a free, fair and fresh mind and further escalates the Eco-Social goal of “Go Green”. The Eco-Friendliness of the Institute campus attracts more students towards the Institute and in a nature loving city, parents as well as other stakeholders love to contribute in vast plantation and other activities such as minimization of pollutions. Therefore, IIST Institute family has made humble attempt to aware the student about the importance of nature through its “CLEAN AND GREEN” practice. Eventhough the conservation of nature is challenging in modern times it can be possible only by educating the students and involving them practically in the field.
Since 2018 every year plantation drives are organized and students are instructed to plant a sapling and take care of that sapling for entire Institute life. He / She can
cherish this memory even after leaving the institute.
Plantation the varieties are chosen meticulously according to the scientific value of particular plant and then healthy saplings are procured from forests and nursery.
IIST has a lush green campus where variety of trees are planted like Silver oak, variety of fruit Plants, ornamental plants which not only add the aesthetic value to the campus but also prevents soil erosion. This has also led to conserve the biodiversity and new species of birds are seen in the campus.
Vetiver/Khas Plantation around Runnel (Nala)
Through the IIST campus a runnel of around 800m length is flowing and extended to nearby villages where the water is used mainly for irrigation purpose.
In campus Vetiver/khas plantation is done around the runnel with the idea of soil conservation and to improve the quality of its water. Vetiver plants play a vital role in watershed protection by slowing down and spreading runoff harmlessly on the farmland, recharging ground water, reducing siltation of drainage systems and water bodies, reducing agro-chemicals loading into water bodies and for rehabilitation of degraded soils. It not only helps us in conserving water and increased water retention but also prevents soil erosion. Looking into above facts, impacts and resultant benefits vetiver grass is grown around the Runnel at IIST. As a technology it will enhance sustainable agricultural development in the campus as well as in nearby areas.
IIST has a sprawling lush green campus with beautiful infrastructure. From 2018, in order to improve air quality and resource conservation, the management started the practice of growing organic crops in 10 acres of area which was lying idle and unused. The objective of organic farming in the campus was to produce food of high nutritional grade in sufficient quantity and to use the grown crop in the campus canteen only in order to provide healthy food & vegetables to students & staff. To provide healthy food in the Institute canteen to all its stakeholders is the ultimate object of practicing organic farming in the campus.
Increase of Plastic waste is one biggest concern, which is adversely affecting environment and soil.
Following Water Conservation Facilities are available in the Institute a. Rain water harvesting
Total 7 numbers of Bore well and 2 numbers of open well are available in the IIST Campus. The location of Bore well as follows –
Till date around 1504 different varieties of plants have been planted in various parts of campus during Plantation drives on various occasions. Institute promoting Agro
forestry in following way:
Institute also formulated Green Campus Policy.
The green campus developed by Institute helps not only to save the environment, but also adds to the beauty of the campus. Besides providing shed to people, the plants are used for scientific studies. Ban on plastic items, vermi culture and vermi compost has made Institute campus clean and beautiful. Eco-campus strategies employed resulted in one of the beautiful and clean Institute in the vicinity. It has resulted in attracting more students. Institute received certificate of Appreciation from AICTE for one student one tree campaign. Students acted upon the initiative of the Institute by keeping the college pollution free and regularly organizing cleanliness drives across the college. However, the Institute strives to generate minimal waste and tries to reduce the use of plastics whenever possible. Printer Cartridges are generally refilled and not disposed. Paper waste is sold off to vendors who send it for recycling or one sided paper is reused by the staff. Farming land in Institute has an area of approx.5 acre where a large variety of organic vegetables are grown annually. Some amounts of the vegetables produced are consumed in the hostel. Institute also conducted from 2019-20 Green and Environment external audit and in year
2020-21 green initiated is appreciated by external audit company in Green Audit report.
Since, it was a very socio and nature friendly innovative by the Institute authorities, there was no obstacle faced of any kind during the proper implementation of the practice but Institute is self-financed therefore most of the expenditure including the cost incurred for
maintenance of Greenery of the campus is dependent on the tuition fees of the students only. Water shortage problem has been almost overcome with drip irrigation. Due to lack of awareness, the bamboo protection cover for the sapling is destroyed before the plant attains a safe height. A person specialized for such purpose was contracted by the Institute for the plantation.