Prof JN Sinha is currently serving as the Director of Institute of Technology-BHU, one of most reputed technical institutions of the country. Prof Sinha has served the institution in various capacities of Dean and Professor of Department of Electrical Engineering.

Sinha holds a PhD from Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore. His areas of research interest are High Voltage Engineering, Polluted Insulters, HVDC Breakers Surge Diverters and Insulation Coordination.

In an exclusive interview with India Education Review Prof Sinha discusses state of technical education in the country, faculty crunch and future plans of the institution.

Q. Since 1971, IT-BHU has been one of the most reputed engineering institutes in India; please share with us how over the years it has maintained its stature?

Prof JN Sinha - The Institute has been the most reputed engineering institution (in the form of three colleges BENCO, MINMET and TECHNO prior to 1971) as the prime contributor to engineering and technology human resource pool of the country (for nation building) and it has made certain and consistent mark at the international level as well in terms of presence in MNCs and academia.

Q. What according to you are some of the best practices that you follow at IT-BHU?

Prof JN Sinha - The Institute adheres to academic calendar in true sense keeping parity with international standards.  It strives to turn out human resource with strong character and moral fabric as envisaged by our founder Mahamanaji whose 150th birth anniversary is being celebrated in this year.

The faculty members keep working on challenging R&D problems so as to be relevant for the technological development.

Q. Tell us about the postgraduate and doctoral programmes that the Institute offers?  Have you seen an upsurge in Research in engineering streams?

Prof JN Sinha - The Institute offers Post-Graduate and Doctoral programmes in all the nine engineering departments and Department of Pharmaceutics, three basic sciences departments, three schools of Biochemical Engg., Bio-medical Engg. and Material Science and Technology.

We find a good deal of interest generated in industry professionals for acquiring higher and specialized knowledge and qualification. We have a number of programmes including external registration. Faculty has developed a culture of getting externally funded Scientific and Engineering Projects thereby getting resource generation for the Institute.

Q. You took charge of IT-BHU on 1 February, 2012.  As the Director of the Institute, what are your priorities now?

Prof JN Sinha - We are working on enriching the work culture for perfection of academic sanctity, discipline and environment. With the advent of globalization of higher education many reputed foreign universities are showing interest for academic collaboration with our Institute/Departments. We are developing better Institute-Industry partnership and the Institute has signed MoU with many industries.

Q. HRD Minister has admitted the issue of faculty crunch in technical institution including IITs.  What is your take on this? Is the teacher student ratio in IT-BHU a healthy one? If not, how do you tackle the problem?

Prof JN Sinha - Yes, faculty shortage is being experienced nation-wide and we are no exception. In our institute, inspite of sufficient sanctioned positions but no recruitment has been done for the last few years; the actual strength is making the situation difficult.  We need to undertake well thought of drives and initiatives for attracting talented people.

We cannot claim the teacher – student ratio to be acceptable.  With the dedication and commitment of the teachers, we have been sharing the additional load in the interest of the academics.

Q. What are the initiatives that the Institute plans to undertake in the 12th Five Year Plan (FYP)?

Prof JN Sinha – Some of the initiatives that we have planned in 12th Five Year Plan are Strengthening of  Library facilities, Developing of Central Instrumentation facilities, Creating Computerized automation and High Performance computing facility, Planning New Programmes for Industrial and R&D professionals and Building Faculty & Research (staff  and scholars) residential facility.

Q. On March 24, 2011, Lok Sabha passed the Institute of Technology Amendment Bill, 2010 which converts IT BHU to an IIT.  How do you see this helping IT-BHU’s performance now onwards?

Prof JN Sinha - The nation is honouring the oldest of the engineering institute of the country by declaring it Institute of National Importance through the IIT Amendment bill.  We would modernize our academic, administrative and functional processes consequent upon declaration as IIT as to become one of the best engineering and technological institution in the world.

Q. There was a delay in the passing of the Bill.  What do you have to say about the students who haven’t received their degrees due to the IIT status delay?

Prof JN Sinha - Our graduates and now graduates of other IITs also, are waiting for their coveted degrees.  We are hopeful that the parliament will soon pass the bill.  It will not be out of place to put forth an appeal to the political system to take it up urgently and pass the bill in the interest of the nation and the society.

(The Bill has been passed by the Parliament and IT-BHU has been granted IIT status post this interview was taken)

Q. As an academician, what according to you are the essential qualities of a teacher of an engineering institute?

Prof JN Sinha - A teacher creates a suitable environment for transforming a student into a human resource who is a perfect world citizen, and hence, a teacher who is always willing to learn for enrichment and perfection of knowledge will always be interested in passing on knowledge along with discharging his/her role as a character builder.  Dedication, hard work and commitment should be the essential quality of a teacher.

Q. Do you think ‘Engineering’ as a profession is losing its sheen as most of the students take it as a stepping stone in making a lucrative career in Management?

Prof JN Sinha - In my opinion engineering as a profession is not losing its sheen, rather it has become more relevant as they are gradually returning back to their core disciplines.

Q. What areas in Indian Higher Education according to you, needs improvement both academically and administratively?

Prof JN Sinha - The country needs to make the PG research programmes more attractive so as to be able to provide quality human resource as teaching faculty in institutions of higher learning, particularly in engineering and technology. The government should provide world-class infrastructure, autonomy to work and transparent administration.