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I do not need to give an introduction to ISRO. This is one of the institution of India which has made news in pure science and Technology like none other. Vikram Sarabhai’s visionary step to initiate Indian Space Program has given us this moment to be rejoice.
Now after many success and notable accomplishments ISRO has taken a rare step in field of education. They call it as “INDIA’S MOMENTOUS JOURNEY IN THE SPACE RACE”. ISRO has started an educational institute known as “Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology”. This was established in 2007-08, IIST is a deemed university.
They are offering
1) Undergraduate Programme (B Tech) in Aerospace Engineering, Avionics and Physical Sciences
2) Post Graduate Programme (M Tech) in advanced areas
3) Doctoral and Post Doctoral Programmes in niche areas of Space Sciences.
A few outstanding features of this institute are written below:
1) Students who would complete the undergraduate program with minimum of 6.5 CGPA would be absorbed into ISRO as scientist/Engineer SC. These students would have to complete minimum 5 years in ISRO and then they are free to continue with ISRO or pursue their interest in any other field. (Well if you are in ISRO I doubt you would leave and join anything in India!!!)
2) IIST is a fully residential college. They will pay everything for you, they will even give 3K per semester as book grant
3) They have tied up with International Organization for student and faculty exchange programs. (I am not sure if that will happen regularly or often, but I rarely doubt ISRO…. )
Needless to say as you can guess from the idea of the institute is to create man power for Indian Space Program. This would be grooming ground for the best Indian Space brains. ISRO with budgets which can be termed as peanuts in comparison to NASA has been able to successfully take Indian Space Program to great heights. The countries which can match India’s Space Prowess cannot be counted in double digits. Essentially the students of this program would have access to the special practical classes, interact with the senior scientists of ISRO, would be able to take up student projects.
4) A small brief about the student projects that have been undertaken in IIST are in the areas of Robotics, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Advanced Solar Cell, Autonomous Firefighter.
5) The summer trainings and winter trainings in the labs of ISRO.
This is one of those institutes which will create a name for India and would surely stand in the leagues of IITs, IIMs or ISC. If governments policy would dilute the standards of IITs and IIMs then ISC Bangalore and IIST Thiruvananthapuram would stand tall for years to come.
6) Admissions to B Tech program is done through an All India Entrance Test ASAT – 2010 across 30 centers. This exam will be held 16th April, 2010.
Further information can be obtained from the website IIST’s Website..
May the wishes of the founders of this Institution come true and IIST be a World Class Academic Institution.