IIT(BHU) Varanasi- A glimpse of life and academics
 
The Institute was established in 1919 by the great visionary - Bharat Ratna Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, and is one of the oldest engineering institutes in India.  This is the only IIT located within a University campus. This provides a rich avenue for various academic and research collaborations across a myriad of disciplines like Arts, Sciences, Medicine, Commerce, Management, Agriculture, and Sociology etc. Our alumni occupy several positions of eminence and maintain a close bond with their alma mater.

At present, the Institute has approx 300 faculty members in the 17 academic units including 10 Engineering Departments, 3 Science Departments, 3 interdisciplinary schools and 1 Humanistic Studies Department. The Institute is proud to have several stalwarts as faculty in various Departments, including Fellows of National Societies/Academies, JC Bose Fellows, Bhatnagar awardees etc.

The Institute has a workshop, which provides Educational platform, where science is translated into technology.  It provides practical training to students to expose them to various manufacturing processes, fabrication facilities in project /dissertation work to the students of all branches of Engineering, all possible facilities to the students in realizing the products that come out of their creative and innovative thinking, support consultancy services for Industries/Research units near Varanasi.   The Institute possesses Central Instrument Facility (CIF) with the aim to provide futuristic research infrastructure and quality education services in support of advanced instrumentation.  It offers an array of sophisticated instruments and technical expertise to support faculty/student research and industrial research and development. Some departments have established Tinkering Labs.

Health care facility is provided by the Institute through Employees Health Centre of BHU and SS Hospital BHU.  Apart from this, a number of hospitals, clinics, pathology & radiology centres have been empanelled by the Institute for providing better medical facilities.  Efforts have also been taken for cashless medical facilities through these empanelled centres.

There are ample opportunities for the spouse of a faculty member to enhance qualifications in any field with the co-existence of BHU.  Opportunities are also available to work in the interested area due to employment opportunities in the University and in the city. The faculty recruitment is  through a rolling advertisement and selections are conducted following a standard transparent process.

The Institute provides several grants to a newly joined faculty member launch her/his research career quickly.  Cumulative Professional Development Allowance (CPDA) for Rs. 3 lakhs a block of 3 years is also provided to meet expenses for participating national/international conferences, paying membership fees of professional bodies and contingent expenses.

Computer Network within the campus has been upgraded. Net connectivity is now convenient having wired network facility in each building and wi-fi facility around the campus. In the Computer Centre of the Institute a good library of software is available which is very useful in research activities and data analysis.  A High Performance Computer of 650 TF is being established in the Institute under the National Computing Mission.

Curriculum of the Institute has been modernized and revamped making it more attractive and lively for both the teacher and the learners.  The curriculum aims to weave research and innovation into the course structure and to create understanding/harmony with one’s self, family, society and nature.  It is having project based learning, which enhances excitation of imagination and creativity and inculcates the habit of working with hands.

The Institute has arranged Peer Review of the Departments/Schools by external experts in the respective fields with an idea to improve its teaching/research as well as overall performance.  The review is also aimed to encourage better exposure to the field in terms of teaching & research and also to get ideas for attracting young, dynamic, multi talented, well qualified and meritorious candidates for faculty positions.

Teaching- Learning Cell of the Institute strengthens the teaching environment of the institute by way of initiating several activities. It covers all aspects of teaching, pedagogy, laboratory projects, assessment etc. with the vision for facilitating studies, R&D and implementation of innovative teaching-learning methodologies/ technologies under teaching-learning processes within the Institute. The Institute has a Quality Improvement Programme Centre and it also participates in QEEE.

The Institute has a well stocked Main Library having a vast collection of books/journals across streams in engineering, science & technology, humanities, social sciences and five independent Departmental libraries.  The faculty of the Institute can have access to the Central Library of the BHU and the Cyber Library.  The library has e-subscription to almost all digital libraries.

A number of multi-storey apartments are under construction and likely to be available very soon for allotment to faculty members.  As an interim measure, one BHK flats are allotted to newly appointed faculty members in the Guru Rabindranath Tagore Apartment.

IIT(BHU) is located in Varanasi within the campus of Banaras Hindu University on the southern edge of Varanasi, near the banks of the river Ganges. Varanasi is a major religious hub in India, it is the holiest of the seven sacred cities in Hinduism and Jainism, and played an important role in the development of Buddhism and Ravidassia. Varanasi is well connected with other parts of country by Road, Rail and Air.  It lies along National Highway 2, which connects it to various major cities in India and is served by several railway stations and Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport. Varanasi has been a cultural centre of North India for several thousand years and is considered an ancient seat of learning. The city is known worldwide for its many Ghats, embankments made in steps of stone slabs along the river bank where pilgrims perform rituals. Sarnath – where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon is just 10 Km from the city centre.