A year after launching reforms in its teaching‑learning methods, IIT Bombay is now preparing to revamp its conventional assessment practices. The institute aims to recognise diverse kinds of learners and talents while ensuring that its grading system continues to support students’ placement prospects.
A year after initiating reforms in its teaching‑learning framework, IIT Bombay is now turning its attention to overhauling its traditional assessment methods. Institute officials say the goal is to broaden the evaluation approach so that different kinds of learners and talents are identified and valued, without compromising the role of grades in campus placements. To support this transformation, the institute will collaborate with the Faculty Alumni Network (FAN), a group of IIT Bombay alumni who now hold faculty positions at leading universities abroad.
Last year, the reforms began with younger faculty, introducing practices such as shared contextual learning and classroom exercises based on field exposure. Director Professor Shireesh Kedare noted that over 760 faculty members are on board, with about 20% having attended training workshops and already incorporating these new methods into their teaching. Even as these revised pedagogical approaches gradually take root, the institute has recognised the need to synchronise them with corresponding changes in how students are assessed.
Around 14 senior faculty members recently convened to review IIT Bombay’s current assessment system. One professor said the objective is to not only identify high‑performing students but also ensure that their varied strengths and skills are formally acknowledged and recorded. The reforms will not follow a one‑size‑fits‑all template; instead, departments will design assessment models tailored to their unique academic requirements.
Faculty members are currently brainstorming on international best practices in assessment. One idea being discussed is holding a comprehensive exam at the end of six semesters that would allow students to self‑assess their ability to synthesise and apply the knowledge they have acquired over time.
The Parimal and Pramod Chaudhari Centre for Teaching and Learning will serve as the central hub to strengthen teaching, learning, and assessment practices. The centre will work on eight key verticals, including early‑alert systems and engagement support, to ensure that both pedagogy and evaluation evolve in tandem with global standards.