Kharagpur, August 21, 2026

As a part of its Platinum Jubilee celebrations, the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur organised the School Connect Programme, an outreach initiative aimed at bringing school students closer to the world of science, technology, research and innovation and inspiring them to explore their potential beyond conventional classroom learning.

The day-long programme offered students an immersive exposure to the IIT Kharagpur ecosystem through interactive sessions, visits to the Institute’s Sophisticated Research Facilities and the Nehru Museum, and a guided campus tour. The students were also introduced to CreateX@75 – Create • Imagine • Innovate • Express, a forthcoming students’ competition scheduled for November.

The morning session featured an address by Prof. Santanu Bhattacharya, Director, IISER Tirupati, as Guest of Honour, followed by an address and film presentation by distinguished guest Ms. Oopali Operajita. The concluding session was graced by Shri Dipak Barman, Minister-in-Charge, School Education and Housing, and Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Textiles, Government of West Bengal, as the Chief Guest.

The session also featured an address by the Prof. Suman Chakraborty, Director, IIT Kharagpur, followed by the screening of a film highlighting the Institute’s history, achievements, research, innovation and student life.

Addressing the students, Shri Dipak Barman, Minister-in-Charge, School Education and Housing, and Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Textiles, Government of West Bengal, emphasised the need to make school education more practical, skill-based and future-oriented. He highlighted initiatives such as ‘One Student, One Skill’ and proposed industrial exposure for students to connect classroom learning with the real world. “Our endeavour is to nurture a skilled, confident and self-reliant new generation that will contribute meaningfully towards realising the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047,” he said.

Addressing the students, Prof Suman Chakraborty, Director, IIT Kharagpur, underscored IIT Kharagpur’s vision of taking the IIT ecosystem closer to young learners, emphasising that access to advanced science and innovation should begin with a child’s curiosity rather than only after an entrance examination. He encouraged students to develop curiosity, imagination and the courage to ask questions, describing these as critical strengths in an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.

The address also outlined a broader vision for strengthening school education through a combination of technology, human mentorship and hands-on learning. Initiatives highlighted included 24×7 AI-enabled tutoring supported by human teachers, the Bengal Advanced Teacher Mission, Bengal Innovation Schools Network, Create-X@75 and Toycathon Bengal, along with maker laboratories equipped with robotics, drones, AI and microchip kits.

IIT Kharagpur also envisages playing the role of a knowledge anchor, including the development of foundational STEM kits, the WB-EDUGRID digital backbone and smart alert systems to identify students requiring timely academic support, while opening its innovation centres to help transform promising school-level ideas into real-world innovations.

Drawing upon IIT Kharagpur’s historic journey from the Hijli Detention Camp to India’s first IIT, the Director called upon students to look beyond examination scores and focus on the problems they want to solve for society and the nation. He urged them to “dream fearlessly, question boldly” and contribute towards building India as they emerge as the generation that will lead the country towards 2047.

The School Connect Programme reflects IIT Kharagpur’s commitment, in its 75th year, to extending the benefits of knowledge, research, and innovation beyond the Institute’s campus and to nurturing scientific curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving among young learners.

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