Developing Research Orientation in UG Students

Centre for Data EngineeringInternational Institute of Information Technology

Hyderabad, Indiakamal@iiit.ac.in

Kamalakar Karlapalem

1Kamalakar Karlapalem | Centre for Data Engineering | I I I T – Hyderabad, India

Paradox!» Large number of B.Tech students ~400,000 +» Fewer Quality PhD Students ~40 + (0.01%)

© 2011 Kamalakar Karlapalem | Centre for Data Engineering | I I I T – Hyderabad, India 2

Paradox!» Large number of B.Tech students ~400,000 +» Fewer Quality PhD Students ~40 + (0.01%)

» ~1% (~4000 +) are research ready students

© 2011 Kamalakar Karlapalem | Centre for Data Engineering | I I I T – Hyderabad, India 3

Paradox!» Large number of B.Tech students ~400,000 +» Fewer Quality PhD Students ~40 + (0.01%)

» ~1% (~4000 +) are research ready students

» Need to orient UG students towards research!

© 2011 Kamalakar Karlapalem | Centre for Data Engineering | I I I T – Hyderabad, India 4

Issues!» Heavy duty workout to get into B.Tech – tired

© 2011 Kamalakar Karlapalem | Centre for Data Engineering | I I I T – Hyderabad, India 5

Issues!» Heavy duty workout to get into B.Tech – tired» Feeling of achievement! – retired

© 2011 Kamalakar Karlapalem | Centre for Data Engineering | I I I T – Hyderabad, India 6

Issues!» Heavy duty workout to get into B.Tech – tired» Feeling of achievement! – retired» Job guaranteed! – so why learn

© 2011 Kamalakar Karlapalem | Centre for Data Engineering | I I I T – Hyderabad, India 7

Issues!» Heavy duty workout to get into B.Tech – tired» Feeling of achievement! – retired» Job guaranteed! – so why learn» Process for getting a job – little to do with what

courses covered, or cover very few courses

© 2011 Kamalakar Karlapalem | Centre for Data Engineering | I I I T – Hyderabad, India 8

Issues!» Heavy duty workout to get into B.Tech – tired» Feeling of achievement! – retired» Job guaranteed! – so why learn» Process for getting a job – little to do with what

courses covered, or cover very few courses» Negative Peer pressure!

© 2011 Kamalakar Karlapalem | Centre for Data Engineering | I I I T – Hyderabad, India 9

Issues!» Heavy duty workout to get into B.Tech – tired» Feeling of achievement! – retired» Job guaranteed! – so why learn» Process for getting a job – little to do with what

courses covered, or cover very few courses» Negative Peer pressure!» Lack of research awareness!

© 2011 Kamalakar Karlapalem | Centre for Data Engineering | I I I T – Hyderabad, India 10

Multi-faceted Approach» Research Mantra

© 2011 Kamalakar Karlapalem | Centre for Data Engineering | I I I T – Hyderabad, India 11

Multi-faceted Approach» Research Mantra» Curriculum

© 2011 Kamalakar Karlapalem | Centre for Data Engineering | I I I T – Hyderabad, India 12

Multi-faceted Approach» Research Mantra» Curriculum» Challenge students

© 2011 Kamalakar Karlapalem | Centre for Data Engineering | I I I T – Hyderabad, India 13

Multi-faceted Approach» Research Mantra» Curriculum» Challenge students» Think about larger life goals

© 2011 Kamalakar Karlapalem | Centre for Data Engineering | I I I T – Hyderabad, India 14

Multi-faceted Approach» Research Mantra» Curriculum» Challenge students» Think about larger life goals» Research groups & opportunities

© 2011 Kamalakar Karlapalem | Centre for Data Engineering | I I I T – Hyderabad, India 15

Multi-faceted Approach» Research Mantra» Curriculum» Challenge students» Think about larger life goals» Research groups & opportunities» Create Positive Peer pressure!

© 2011 Kamalakar Karlapalem | Centre for Data Engineering | I I I T – Hyderabad, India 16

Multi-faceted Approach» Research Mantra» Curriculum» Challenge students» Think about larger life goals» Research groups & opportunities» Create Positive Peer pressure!» Events

© 2011 Kamalakar Karlapalem | Centre for Data Engineering | I I I T – Hyderabad, India 17

Opportunities» B.Tech (Honours)» B.Tech + MS by Research dual degree

© 2011 Kamalakar Karlapalem | Centre for Data Engineering | I I I T – Hyderabad, India 18

Student Observations» Research is doable

Attend conferences, and think O’ I too can do that!

© 2011 Kamalakar Karlapalem | Centre for Data Engineering | I I I T – Hyderabad, India 19

Student Observations» Research is doable

Attend conferences, and think O’ I too can do that!» Research requires hard consistent work

Paper reviews – eye openers!

© 2011 Kamalakar Karlapalem | Centre for Data Engineering | I I I T – Hyderabad, India 20

Student Observations» Research is doable

Attend conferences, and think O’ I too can do that!» Research requires hard consistent work

Paper reviews – eye openers!» Success in research is recognized within the peer

group

© 2011 Kamalakar Karlapalem | Centre for Data Engineering | I I I T – Hyderabad, India 21

Student Observations» Research is doable

Attend conferences, and think O’ I too can do that!» Research requires hard consistent work

Paper reviews – eye openers!» Success in research is recognized within the peer

group» Groups have peer support and mentoring

© 2011 Kamalakar Karlapalem | Centre for Data Engineering | I I I T – Hyderabad, India 22

Student Observations» Research is doable

Attend conferences, and think O’ I too can do that!» Research requires hard consistent work

Paper reviews – eye openers!» Success in research is recognized within the peer

group» Groups have peer support and mentoring» Perspective on future career prospects changes

© 2011 Kamalakar Karlapalem | Centre for Data Engineering | I I I T – Hyderabad, India 23

Student Observations» Research is doable

Attend conferences, and think O’ I too can do that!» Research requires hard consistent work

Paper reviews – eye openers!» Success in research is recognized within the peer

group» Groups have peer support and mentoring» Perspective on future career prospects changes» Pursuing Research has benefits!

© 2011 Kamalakar Karlapalem | Centre for Data Engineering | I I I T – Hyderabad, India 24

Institute Observations» About 30% of students do B.Tech (Honours)

(~150 students in 14+ research labs)

© 2011 Kamalakar Karlapalem | Centre for Data Engineering | I I I T – Hyderabad, India 25

Institute Observations» About 30% of students do B.Tech (Honours)

(~150 students in 14+ research labs)» About 10% go for dual degree program (~15, +

~150 directly admitted dual-degree students)

© 2011 Kamalakar Karlapalem | Centre for Data Engineering | I I I T – Hyderabad, India 26

Institute Observations» About 30% of students do B.Tech (Honours)

(~150 students in 14+ research labs)» About 10% go for dual degree program (~15, +

~150 directly admitted dual-degree students)» Research is addictive! (more so after initial

success)

© 2011 Kamalakar Karlapalem | Centre for Data Engineering | I I I T – Hyderabad, India 27

Institute Observations» About 30% of students do B.Tech (Honours)

(~150 students in 14+ research labs)» About 10% go for dual degree program (~15, +

~150 directly admitted dual-degree students)» Research is addictive! (more so after initial

success)» PhD conversion within institute problematic <1%

© 2011 Kamalakar Karlapalem | Centre for Data Engineering | I I I T – Hyderabad, India 28

Institute Observations» About 30% of students do B.Tech (Honours)

(~150 students in 14+ research labs)» About 10% go for dual degree program (~15, +

~150 directly admitted dual-degree students)» Research is addictive! (more so after initial

success)» PhD conversion within institute problematic <1%» Enthusing studies towards learning – more work

is needed

© 2011 Kamalakar Karlapalem | Centre for Data Engineering | I I I T – Hyderabad, India 29

Institute Observations» About 30% of students do B.Tech (Honours)

(~150 students in 14+ research labs)» About 10% go for dual degree program (~15, +

~150 directly admitted dual-degree students)» Research is addictive! (more so after initial

success)» PhD conversion within institute problematic <1%» Enthusing studies towards learning – more work

is needed» Train student for their last job

© 2011 Kamalakar Karlapalem | Centre for Data Engineering | I I I T – Hyderabad, India 30

Take away!» Curriculum plays big role!» Need to have research groups!» Positive peer pressure helps!» Human values » Getting good PhD conversion rate still a

challenge!

© 2011 Kamalakar Karlapalem | Centre for Data Engineering | I I I T – Hyderabad, India 31