Former IIT Director Proposes 5-Year BTech with Flexible Exit to Reduce Student Stress

A former director of the Indian Institute of Technology has suggested restructuring the undergraduate engineering programme to span five years instead of the current four, with flexible exit pathways for students.

The proposal aims to address the academic and mental health burden faced by BTech students. The suggested framework would allow students to leave after specific milestones with intermediate qualifications, easing the intensity of the current compressed curriculum.

This recommendation comes amid ongoing discourse around improving student welfare in premier engineering institutions and making higher education more adaptable to individual pace and capability.