IIT Madras is introducing a novel minor ‘Personal and Professional Development’ course for its students. IIT Madras Senate recently approved the proposal to add a minor programme in “Personal and Professional Development”. The courses given under this programme are available as electives to all students of IITM, regardless of the degree they are in. The minor stream is offered to all B.Tech and Dual Degree students.

Students’ both personal and professional growth is the theme of the courses and activities in this stream. Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said, “Personal Development programs help fulfil the inner (human) urge to actualize one’s full potential through self-discovery, self-awareness, self-leadership and self-mastery. Specifically these programs are expected to positively impact the way of thinking in our young minds. Professional Development programs help build both interpersonal and transferable skills with an objective to meet various career aspirations of our students.”

The key components of the course include concepts that are extrapolated from well-researched findings, such as ‘happiness-centred’ approach to living, imbibing creative habits play as an integral part of a leader, self-mastery, self-esteem and self-discovery, cultivating wisdom through systems thinking approaches, forging enriching relationships, sustainable living and prospering, role of an engineer in the society, cultivating innovative and entrepreneurship mindset, among other areas.

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