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IIT Madras: The Indian Institute of Technology Madras has recently launched an online MTech programme for working professionals, similar to the popular executive MBA courses on offer that enable people from the area of management to seek educational qualifications alongside their job.

The custom-built online course for qualified engineers from technology companies has already gained popularity, with over 600 working professionals having already enrolled for the three-year programme instead of the regular two-year one.

Classes are held online, and projects can be accomplished at their own companies. IIT Madras has become the first IIT institute to deliver an MTech course via the distance mode through its Centre for Continuing Education.

Chairman of the centre at IIT Madras, Professor Devendra Jalihal, said the students of this course have the same rights and benefits as regular students. The working professionals can perform the project work at their workplaces. They do not require any residency as compared to sponsored applicants. From 14 candidates in 2020, the number has increased to 605 this year.

According to IIT Madras, their faculty members, teachers from other exclusive educational institutions, and prominent industry professionals will be conducting the classes for these students. Besides classes held in the evening, students will also have live interaction with their faculty members.

The students can give examinations in the same city as their offices. In terms of the evaluation process, a problem statement will be evaluated and approved by the IIT Madras faculty. A mentor from the company will teach the student at their workplace.

The student’s progress will be together evaluated by the faculty of IIT Madras and the mentor. The role of the IIT Madras faculty would be to approve the problem statement and examine the progress.

Listing out companies that have sent their employees to seek this MTech course, Prof Jalihal said Qualcomm, Synopsis, Valeo, Lam Research, Silicon Labs, Sundaram Clyton, BEL, HAL, BNY, Silicon labs, Cypress, Honeywell, Analog devices, HCL, Mahindra, Daimler, Bosch, and Fiat Chrysler are some of the organisations among others.

The MTech degree includes programmes on communications, multimedia signal processing, VLSI and analog circuits, mechanical design, automotive engineering, microelectronics, software security, and interdisciplinary programmes in quantum technology and data sciences.