In a move aimed at strengthening communication between students and the administration, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur has launched a structured feedback initiative inviting students to share their views on key academic and administrative policies, including the much-discussed attendance system.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Technology Students’ Gymkhana (TSG) — the institute’s primary student representative body — involves circulating online forms to students across various departments and hostels. These forms encourage constructive feedback on how existing rules are functioning and invite suggestions for improvement in policies that directly affect campus life.
According to institute officials, the drive seeks to foster a more inclusive and transparent policy-making process by incorporating student perspectives. “The aim is to understand student concerns and identify areas where change is necessary. All responses will remain confidential,” an official stated.
Encouraging Dialogue and Collaboration
IIT-Kharagpur Director Prof. Suman Chakraborty has welcomed the feedback campaign, calling it a “progressive and participatory step.” He emphasised that student engagement is vital in refining institutional practices and ensuring that policies serve both academic objectives and student well-being.
“We are open to any constructive suggestion. Every opinion will be considered at the highest decision-making level. This initiative is not about opposition but collaboration,”
— Prof. Suman Chakraborty, Director, IIT-Kharagpur
Officials added that the responses will be reviewed by a joint committee comprising representatives from both the student body and the administration. The committee will analyse the submissions and present proposals for consideration before the institute’s governing bodies.
A Shift Toward Participatory Governance
This marks one of the first major feedback campaigns initiated by the students’ body in the new academic session. It reflects IIT-Kharagpur’s growing commitment to participatory governance — a model that seeks to include student input in decisions that shape their academic and social experience on campus.
The move also follows years of debate surrounding attendance policies at IITs, which many students have described as rigid or outdated. By inviting feedback directly from the student community, IIT-Kharagpur signals a willingness to re-examine existing systems and align them more closely with the realities of modern academic life.
Building a Collaborative Campus Culture
Campus officials describe the initiative as a “listening exercise”, one designed to promote openness rather than confrontation. Beyond attendance and academic policy, the feedback form also explores students’ views on issues such as academic support, administrative accessibility, and campus welfare systems.
The ultimate goal, according to the TSG, is to establish a culture of mutual trust and dialogue, ensuring that policy revisions are informed by those most affected — the students themselves.
As IIT-Kharagpur continues to evolve as one of India’s leading institutions of technology and innovation, this feedback drive represents a significant step toward shared decision-making and student empowerment — values that lie at the heart of a modern, inclusive campus.
