IIT-Bombay ‘unlocks’ campus to hold UG mid-semester exams in hybrid mode – Times of India

MUMBAI: In another step towards relaxing ‘lockdown’ norms within the IIT-Bombay campus, the institute is allowing its departments to conduct the ongoing undergraduate mid-semester exams in a hybrid mode.
Those on the campus are taking the exams physically from well-ventilated classrooms, following all Covid protocols, and others are taking it from their respective home locations. While the mode of exam remains the same for both set of students — online — those on the campus will be giving it under physical invigilation (pic). As of now, there are no plans to start lectures in the hybrid mode.
At least one in five students from undergraduate programmes (close to 1,000) are on the campus, and for reasons ranging from poor connectivity to irregular power supply in their hometowns. Director of the institute, Subhasis Chaudhuri, said that since the pandemic has posed an unprecedented situation, they are trying to experiment with different modes. “We are coming out with the best possible solutions keeping in mind all the BMC rules. With more students being allowed on the campus, the total strength has almost reached 50% this semester,” said the director, adding that a majority of them are postgraduate and research students. The exams are decentralised and, therefore, departments are free to take a call on the hybrid mode.
Some faculty members believed that for students on the campus, indulging in malpractices was easier as they are with their friends and classmates, said a professor. “A few departments approached the institute seeking permission to hold the exams for the on-campus students in classrooms. Since we have the facilities, it was decided to allow these departments,” said S Sudarshan, deputy director, academic and infrastructural affairs.
The institute estimates around 15-20% of the undergraduate exams are now being held in the hybrid mode, he added. The civil engineering department saw three students leaving the campus after the in-person exams were announced for hostelites. And the administration found that at least one student lied about the reason. Deepankar Choudhury, head of the department which conducted the exam in the hybrid mode from Saturday, said they had “ensured to use only 20% of the class capacity during the exam ensuring all Covid protocols”.