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'Speaking good English is not all the soft skills'- 15-Oct-2014

Just merely speaking good English is not all soft skills, says IIT Madras, Director, Baskar Ramamurthi in an exclusive interview to Kalvimalar.

Though 60 years have gone by after establishing IIT, has it fulfilled its basic objectives?

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) was established in our country with the purpose of providing quality technical education and research developments through the recommendation of Sarkar Committee. During 1970s itself, research of international standards were carried out., but only very few in number.

It was mainly due lot of funds were pumped into construction, installing high quality research laboratories. To carry out research grants were also needed to be allocated. Huge amount of funds was also required to carry out research, hence in those days the number of research were very few.

After developments taking place in India, researchers have also increased to a great deal. Now, we do have facilities of international standards; and do have students for the same. Likewise, the number of researches carried out in countries like America, Germany is carried out here in India. In foreign countries, research scholars could be found sitting here and there in the campus, discussing about finding undertaken. Such a state is now prevalent in India too. This was the objective of 1947 report on establishing elite technical institutions in India for higher education.

Generally, research could be classified into two major groups. They are 'Basic' and 'Translational' researches. �Basic Research� may seem too trivial. It may not be useful to anybody now. But, these researches may be of great value in the latter days. New inventions are only possible if basic researches happen at large scale. So, should not ask scholars about the applications and its details. They need to be given the freedom to carry out base level researches.

Next is the 'Translational Research' which highly important.. New techniques to curb prices, save energy, prevent wastage or inventing a top end car are some 'translational researches' that is largely happening IITs. With aiding from companies, IIT Madras is carrying out this type of research to a tune of about 55 crore every year. We execute several projects in association with ISRO and DRDO.

Beyond this two, IITs also carry out activities like bringing out miniature cameras, carrying out certain specific activities for ISRO that I would like to call 'Transformational Research'. Though few mistakes do happen, it is being rectified later.

Problems in our country are different from the problems faced in other countries are different.. We can find solutions to our problems like issues related to water and pollution. It is impossible to get technical support from other countries. In foreign countries, power shortage is not an issue at all. But, in India it is prevalent at large scale. Problems related to power shortage can be only sorted out in our country only.

Humanities is necessary for everyone. Only if we happen to understand our country's culture and practice, we can be better Engineers. In every aspect of their work, our culture is rooted. Hence, knowing technology alone will do no good. All engineering colleges should have humanities studies too.

In foreign countries, one university provides all the varied studies, like Medicine , Engineering , Humanities and Arts & Science. Whereas in our country, we

have each institution like AIIMs to provide medical studies, NationaL Law University for Law, IITs for technical studies. Generally, University here offers more of science studies.

In this scenario, features included in foreign survey facilitates foreign educational institutions rather than Indian. Well, if a study or survey is carried for a specific domain related studies IITs is in top 50 ranking. Hence, a framework on national ranking system is on its way. We are expecting this ranking list to be ready in one or two years.

Every board has its own syllabus and own marking patterns. Some boards giveaway marks so freely. As a result marks scored in a particular board cannot be the same as the one scored in another board. Taking it beyond percentile method, it has been made necessary to have a minimum mark in plus two exams to join IITs. Although JEE is considered foremost towards the admission into IITs, marks in plus two is also taken into consideration.

As a result, recently a notification has been released stating that minimum 75 per cent marks in plus two is a must for admission into IITs.

It is a fact that more than 50 per cent graduates lack employability skills, hence they do not get the right job say studies? What is your say on this?

Generaly, today's youngsters consider that speaking good English is Soft Skills. Just speaking in English alone is not enough. They should be able to clearly transfer whatever they think to the other person irrespective of the language. Communication skill is one that is amalgamated with our culture.

Earlier, we used to go as a family for any functions like marriage or any other family function. There they used to get an opportunity to freely interact and express. Communicating with others and solving issues developed naturally.

Whereas in the present scenario, parents force children score only high marks. Just to score good marks they do not take their children along with them to family functions even during holidays. How is it possible for teachers to teach communication skills to such children who come to college after schooling who are detached with the society. No teacher can teach the art of communication.

But, companies insist on possessing these skills when they select candidates. Soft Skills should be taught from early through family and schools.