In a major reform push, the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs) will implement a flexible, learner-centric higher education system with multiple entry and exit pathways while maintaining their rigorous research-oriented character, officials announced on Tuesday. The initiative was discussed at the third meeting of the IISER Standing Committee, chaired by Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in New Delhi.

The move is part of a broader effort to align higher education in India with industry requirements, emerging technologies, and national priority missions, while also strengthening research, innovation, and entrepreneurship ecosystems.

Flexible Learning and Multiple Entry-Exit Pathways

The IISERs will now allow students to enter, exit, and re-enter programmes at multiple points, enabling greater flexibility in higher education. The system will also allow students to undertake one-semester experiential internshipsin research, innovation, industry, or entrepreneurship instead of attending regular classroom semesters. Academic credits will be assigned upon completion and evaluation of these internships.

The initiative aims to foster a more personalized and applied learning experience while ensuring that academic standards and the research intensity of IISER programmes remain uncompromised.

PhD Reforms and Industry Alignment

A comprehensive review of IISER PhD programmes will be undertaken to identify gaps, benchmark global best practices, and introduce reforms. These reforms aim to make doctoral training more relevant to industry needs and national priority missions, such as quantum computing, biotechnology, energy, climate change, and advanced materials.

The Standing Committee also stressed that PhD achievements should not be measured solely by publications or citations but should place greater emphasis on product-based and applied research addressing real-world problems.

Innovation, Incubation, and Centres of Excellence

To enhance societal impact, IISERs will strengthen research and innovation ecosystems by establishing:

• Research parks
• Incubators
• Domain-specific Centres of Excellence (CoEs)

These initiatives will cover areas such as quantum technologies, healthcare, energy, climate change, agri-food systems, rare-earth and critical minerals, and advanced materials. Each IISER will also set up its own Section 8 company to promote research partnerships, attract funding, and connect academic research with industry. The boards of these companies will include academics, corporate leaders, industrialists, and innovation ecosystem stakeholders.

Inclusive Admission Policies

IISERs plan to introduce admission quotas for International Olympiad performers and explore a sports quota for undergraduate programmes. Support measures will also be implemented to help students from Bharatiya Bhasha-medium backgrounds transition to English-medium instruction at IISERs.

Long-Term Vision: 5-Year and 10-Year Plans

The Standing Committee released five-year (2030) and ten-year (2035) vision statements for IISERs:

5-Year Vision (2030):

• Scale enrollment to 21,000+ students across IISERs
• Establish 7 thematic CoEs
• Boost NIRF rankings
• Develop research parks and incubators
• Introduce lateral entry and exit in courses
• Double publications and patents
• Enhance internationalization and internal revenue generation by 50%

10-Year Vision (2035):

• Expand CoEs with joint PhD programmes
• Emphasize startups and translational research
• Establish extension campuses and joint international campuses
• Launch health sciences schools
• Develop indigenous high-end instrumentation
• Enter global top 500 (target top 100) rankings
• Establish “Brand IISER” globally

Alignment with Emerging Technologies and NIT Reforms

On the same day, the 13th NITSER Council meeting, also chaired by Pradhan, discussed reforms for NITs, IISERs, and IIEST Shibpur. Key discussions included:

• Industry-aligned curricula in emerging technologies like AI, Industry 4.0, green hydrogen, semiconductors, quantum technologies, and advanced manufacturing
• Specialized PG and M.Tech programmes
• 360-degree PhD reforms, integrating industry-led and product-based research
• Peer reviews and NAAC accreditation within a year
• Promoting inclusivity through Bharatiya Bhashas and AI-enabled multilingual learning

Pradhan emphasized a paradigm shift in PhD evaluation, focusing on practical, product-oriented outcomes rather than traditional publication metrics. He also instructed that 13 NITs without incubation centres establish them immediately, and at least 10 NITs set up research parks without delay, reinforcing the innovation ecosystem across technical institutions.

Strategic Goal: A Knowledge-Driven Economy

These reforms align with India’s long-term vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat by 2047, aiming to leverage innovation, human capital, and sustainability. By promoting indigenous technology development, entrepreneurship, and international collaboration, IISERs and NITs are expected to become centres of global research excellence, producing graduates capable of addressing national and international scientific challenges.

In summary, the IISER Standing Committee’s recommendations represent a transformative approach to higher education, combining flexibility, inclusivity, research excellence, and societal relevance. The reforms seek to create a dynamic, learner-centric system that prepares students not just for academia but also for industry, entrepreneurship, and leadership roles in cutting-edge technological sectors.