IISER Pune Review and Verdict by CollegeDekho

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IISER Pune, located in the modern and vibrant city of Pune, was founded in 2006 by the Indian Ministry of Education. In 2012, the institute was designated as an 'Institute of National Importance' by an Act of Parliament. In the NIRF ranking 2023, IISER Pune ranked 34th overall and 27th for its Research programme. Courses offered under the umbrella include a 5-year integrated BS-MS programme, M.Sc. programme, and PhD programmes. IISER Pune is known for its flagship PhD courses. Talking about the IISER Pune campus, it boasts magnificent modern infrastructure and a vibrant campus life with various clubs, events, and activities taking place all around the year. Being a government college, the institute is well equipped with modern classrooms, neat and clean hostels, a 24*7 e-library, active sports events, Wi-Fi facilities, etc. IISER Pune invites applications from research-oriented students to participate in its Summer Student Programmes. However, the institute lacks one of the key aspects, which is placements. Although IISER Pune has an active placement cell to guide the students with career advice and help articulate their core interests and skills, it fails to bag good placements during the recruitment drive. 

IISER Pune NIRF Rankings

The Indian Institute of Science, Education, and Research (IISER) in Pune was ranked 34th in the NIRF Rankings 2023 under the Overall category. These rankings are essential for making an informed decision about choosing the right college, rather than depending on hearsay or standard criteria that can be misleading to students.

Our Take

Although IISER Pune ranks among the top 50 institutes as per the above data, its ranking has gone down consistently over the last few years. Both in the overall and research categories, the rankings have taken a dip as per the NIRF 2023 report. With more and more colleges participating in NIRF rankings, the competition is intense, and it has become increasingly difficult for any single institution to maintain a high ranking. This is especially true for smaller institutions like IISER Pune, which may not have the same resources or manpower as larger, more established universities. The institute needs to ensure the delivery of high-quality education to its students. This includes providing an updated and relevant curriculum, research opportunities, qualified faculty, and infrastructure to support effective learning. As NIRF takes into account research output and publications as important criteria for ranking, IISER Pune needs to focus on producing quality research, publishing journals, and securing research grants to improve its overall position. 

IISER Pune Academia & Batch Size

IISER Pune follows a credit-based semester system that divides academic programs into semesters and assigns particular credits to courses. Students earn credits to fulfil graduation requirements and secure a degree. This academic system provides higher education with flexibility, openness, and progress tracking.

Courses at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Pune are offered at UG and PG levels and include BS-MS (dual degree), Integrated PhD, and PhD courses. Admission to BS-MS courses in this institute is available through three routes: the KVPY stream, JEE Advanced, and the IISER Aptitude Test. PhD admissions are done based on JAM/JEST/JGEEBILLS scores. Securing admission at IISER Pune is not a cakewalk since the entrance exams are quite tough to crack. As per the reviews shared by students on Quora, the institute's acceptance rate is around 5%. 

Students are given adequate time and flexibility to conduct cutting-edge research. They can work closely with the faculty members during the semesters, as well as during the summer and winter breaks.

Our Take

IISER Pune is a research-intensive teaching institute with students and faculty investigating scientific questions that lie beyond the boundaries of conventional thinking. The ambience here is very academic. It is an institute best suited for those who are interested in science and research rather than completing a degree to land a job. IISER Pune academics require a lot of hard work and dedication to their studies. According to the students, the coursework is difficult and requires them to study rigorously to pass the exam. Those who are passionate about research work and are prepared to dedicate 10-12 hours of their day to research, will have an enjoyable, learning experience during the course period. The implementation of the CBCS system is a progressive approach. Given the option of choosing their preferred course, students can take ownership of their education and learn at their own pace. They are better equipped with the skills and knowledge that are more relevant to the job market, thereby increasing their employability.

IISER Pune Infrastructure 

Indian Institute of Science Education and Research is a relatively new institute. It offers all the facilities, from a library and modern classrooms to the latest technology labs, sports facilities, social clubs, etc.

• Classroom: IISER Pune has two e-classrooms financed by the Indian government and is linked to the National Knowledge Network (NKN) via a 100 Mbps connection. The NKN's connectivity will shortly be upgraded to 1 Gbps.

• Auditorium/ Seminar Halls/ Labs: The college has multiple computer laboratories with centralized server and storage, visualization capability, and virtual reality setup. The college has a large auditorium and seminar halls for various events.

• Library:IISER Pune library contains a large collection of reference books, print journals/magazines, PhD. theses, MS theses, textbooks, and research journals in both electronic and print formats. The library's collection also includes online full-text databases, abstracting and indexing databases, and multimedia resources. The library is 24*7 accessible online.

• Internet: The IISER Pune campus and hostels are fully equipped with functional wifi and internet facilities.

• Hostel:IISER Pune offers hostel facilities for both male and female students. Every student is required to stay in a hostel. The rooms are double-occupancy and have ample space for two people. The rooms contain two single beds, a  bed table, a large segmented cupboard with plenty of storage space, two chairs, and night lamps.

• Activities: There are numerous extracurricular activities and social clubs at IISER Pune. The institute has a cricket ground, a football ground, a volleyball court, a basketball court, and a tennis court. It also has several groups, such as Disha, Spicamacay, Kaleidoscope, Literary, and so on to promote students. IISER Pune also has a vibrant LGBTQA community called Satrangi, through which students conduct pride marches to educate the general public about such cultures.

• Cafe/ Hang-out Places:Outsourced caterers provide meals and refreshments to students at IISER Pune. The institute maintains a mess monitoring committee comprised of staff, management, and a group of students to ensure the efficient operation of the facilities provided.

Source: IISER Pune Infrastructure details given above are as per the university's official website. 

Our Take 

Talking about the IISER Pune infrastructure, we can say that the college offers 5-star facilities and a vibrant student life. With all-time access to the university's e-library, students can retrieve information, materials and resources quickly and more efficiently. It is also a cost-effective approach from the institute's perspective as it is able to make digital content accessible to a large number of students without purchasing multiple copies of a book. Well-furnished, spacious hostel rooms ensure that students feel comfortable and at home after a long day. Going beyond academics, IISER Pune encourages students to participate in various clubs/organizations devoted to entertainment, sports, recreation and other fields of interest. This is a much-appreciated initiative since engaging in such activities can help students build their social and leadership skills, and provide valuable experiences and opportunities to nurture their career goals. As far as recreation is concerned, students can spend leisure time relaxing or interacting with their peers at the designated hangout zones within the premises. IISER Pune takes complete care of the students' other basic needs, such as medical care, banking assistance, transportation etc. which is praiseworthy. Students need not step out for daily necessities since everything is available on campus. Overall, students living here will not face any inconveniences as the amenities provided are of international standards, which is remarkable for an Indian government institute.

IISER Pune Internships and Placements

IISER Pune Internship

IISER Pune offers internship opportunities to its students. According to the university's official website, a strong emphasis is placed on summer internships and exchange programmes, which are great for grooming students and preparing them for the real world. Through the student exchange programme, a few select students are given the opportunity to complete summer internships at some of the premier institutes across the globe - Germany, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Singapore. Students can make the most of this opportunity by participating in various conferences and interacting with some remarkable people.

IISER Pune Placement for UG (5-Year Programmes)

As per the data submitted for NIRF ranking 2023 and the information available on the university's official website, the IISER Pune placements for the last three years have been below the belt. With just a 13% placement rate in 2022, the university is not doing enough to attract job offers.

Our Take

In terms of internships, IISER Pune is doing great in taking the initiative for international exchange programmes, summer internships, etc. This is a great move as students gain better exposure and have the scope to interact with other research scholars and peers from various parts of the world. However, IISER Pune placements aren't very focused and have poor records. Considering the placement data given above, although half of the students are opting for higher studies, the remaining half who dream of a job after graduation aren't getting many opportunities through IISER Pune placements. This showcases the inefficiencies of the Career Development and Placement Cell in bringing recruiters to campus, training students for interviews, and guiding them. The placement cell should focus on publishing more research papers that are highly valuable in terms of exposure, opportunities for collaboration, and career advancement. The research papers serve as a clear demonstration of the institute's and the students' expertise in specific areas within the field of study. 

IISER Pune Diversity & Representation

IISER Pune is a co-educational college and has a place for all the students, both male and female. However, the male-to-female ratio is 1199:560, which is significantly low. One of the key highlights of IISER Pune's diversity is that students who belong to the LGBTQA community are also welcome and offered a safe study place. 

Our Take

IISER Pune's low male-to-female ratio indicates that almost in comparison to the female students, double the number of male students seek admission here. This could be due to young women scientists or research scholars leaving academia in far greater numbers than men for various reasons. The primary reasons could be the characteristics of academic careers being unappealing, the obstacles encountered being disproportionate, and the sacrifices to be made being great. The Career Development Cell and the faculty at IISER Pune should promote equal participation of women and girls in science and research. The institute should offer more women-centric scholarships based on merit and eligibility to encourage them to pursue doctoral programmes. However, on the other hand, the foundation of the LBTQA community named Satrangi, which conducts pride marches, is a much-appreciated move. It indicates that the institute is keen on spreading awareness about gender inclusion in education and aims to fight against discrimination to create a more equal world. 

IISER Pune Faculty/College Administration & Management

IISER Pune has 136 faculty, 10 visiting faculty, 11 project scientists, and 11759 students as of March 31, 2022, according to the IISER Pune official website page. The teachers have completed PhDs and post-doctoral studies overseas. Some are alumni of IITs, IISc, and MIT in the United States, as well as other prestigious universities. There are professors, assistant professors, associate professors, faculty, research fellows, and independent researchers on the faculty. As per the students' reviews on Quora, the college administration is friendly and helpful. IISER Pune has an email-based network where students may directly refer to their complaints. A Student Affairs Council exists to bring student issues to the attention of management.

Our Take

Commenting on the IISER Pune faculty and administration, the college is doing great work in keeping up with qualified teachers and management. The professors not only impart wisdom but also maintain friendly relations with the students and are always ready to guide them or counsel them if needed. However, the college needs to hire more teachers so that each student gets proper attention and guidance. 

IISER Pune Location

IISER Pune is situated at Ward No. 8 of NCL Colony, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pashan, Pune, Maharashtra. IISER Pune's campus is located within city borders, only 15 minutes by car from the main city. This helps to attract many good faculty who want to live in the city. The prime location of the college connects it with all the nearby transport facilities, hospitals, departmental stores, and grocery stores, which make the student's life easy. The weather in Pune is lovely all year. Students can experience Pune's thriving cultural and social scene. The city is close to Mahabaleshwar, Mumbai, Ajanta-Ellora, and Lonavla, as well as other hiking destinations. The city bus stop is directly in front of the college. It is a short walk from the institute. According to the university's official website, the institute provides outsourced ambulance, bus, and light motor vehicle transportation.

Our Take

IISER Pune's location is within the main city of Pune, which makes it convenient for students and teachers to access resources near cafes and eating outlets within walking distance. Those who do not wish to avail of the hostel facilities can easily find PGs around for a comfortable stay. Due to the institute being well-connected with all the major routes in the city, students can get easy transport services.

Expectation vs. Reality: CollegeDekho Verdict

After considering all the facts and student reviews, we would like to state that IISER Pune is undoubtedly one of the best institutes to pursue basic science and research. It is the right choice for those with a strong interest in research work. As the institution is newly built, the campus is well-equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and resources for students to excel in their studies. IISER Pune offers a unique integrated PhD programme wherein students can earn both a Bachelor's and a PhD degree in a 5-year period and go on to pursue successful careers in academia and industry. The highly qualified and dedicated faculty are experts in their fields. The institute has an average placement record, which the management needs to ensure that students get better offers and job opportunities after a degree. If the administration manages to resolve the minor conveniences, IISER Pune has the potential to secure better rankings and recognition in the coming years. 

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