Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani (BITS Pilani), declared a Deemed to be University in 1964, was conferred the distinction of Institution of Eminence in 2020 by the Ministry of Education, Govt. of India. The qualities of innovation, enterprise, commitment to excellence, adherence to merit, and transparency, have characterized the Institute during its inexorable march to eminence.
Over the span of 57 years, across the four campuses namely in Pilani, Dubai, Goa and Hyderabad, the Institute has been offering educational programmes that are academically rigorous, broad-based, modular, flexible, and relevant to the needs of industry and society, with the agility to adapt to the changing environment, at all three levels, namely, Integrated First Degree, Higher Degree and the Doctoral Degree. The institute has taken pioneering initiatives towards the development of institutionalized linkages with industry, through its (i) Practice school, (ii) Technology Innovation Center, and (iii) Off-campus Work Integrated Learning Programmes (WILP). Today, 18,000+ students are enrolled on the campuses, and about 22,000+ working professionals are enrolled in WILP. The unique concept of dual degree programme for On-campus students helps them to equip for careers in interdisciplinary areas.
Among the pool of 1,52,100+ alumni, 60,600+ are from the on campus programmes, and another 91,500+ are from the WILP. Over 4500 BITSians have founded companies, among which 13 leading ventures by BITSians across the globe have over $63 billion market capitalization; over 3000 BITSians are CEOs and several social enterprises are among the ventures created. 9 alumni startups are unicorns.
Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship is a major focus in our governance with a Technology Business Incubator in each Indian Campus that have nurtured around 75 start-ups until date. Recent studies have identified BITS at #3 in India in terms of number of start-ups founded by graduates.
QS World University Subject Rankings 2021 has Ranked BITS in Engineering & Technology among Top 401-450 in four areas namely, Mechanical Engineering (in top 10 in India), Computer Science (in top 11 in India), EEE (in top 11 in India) and Chemical Engineering (in top 13 in India). In Life Sciences & Medicine, BITS was ranked at 151-200 in the area of Pharmacy & Pharmacology (2nd in India). NIRF 2021 has ranked BITS at #17 in University category, at #29 in Overall category and at #3 in Pharmacy. In QS Asia University Rankings 2021, BITS is at #194, only private institute from India in the Asia Top 200, and #19 in India, highest among the private Universities.
The universities across the world are increasingly promoting data driven decision for both strategic and operational purposes. This calls for systematic organization of data across offices and campuses that forms basis of such decisions. The overarching purpose of IKA is to "provide data with analysis to internal and external stakeholders for evidence based decision making and strategic planning". The objectives of IKA are:
1. To seek, collate, organize & secure data for institutional processes and functions
2. To conduct analysis & provide insights into collected data, with the goal of facilitating evidence based decision making
3. To provide relevant data for benchmarking, accreditation, rankings, awards, and other such initiatives
In the backdrop of BITS Pilani declared as Institution of Eminence by MHRD, Government of India, this cell plays a significant role in the growth and development of BITS Pilani.
Data Analytics for Strategy and Growth of Higher Education
The present environment in which universities are operating is day by day becoming dynamic and complex. This requires universities to continuously innovate the program offerings and its delivery to students. Therefore, universities across the world are increasingly promoting data driven decision for both strategic and operational purposes. BITS Pilani through its traditional practice of keeping abreast with the latest and fast developing technological base, is offering DASH-2021 as a platform for all to hear from the experienced professionals in the area of data usage for strategizing growth of an institution.
